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VOL.  2 


No.  1 


JANUARY,  1936 


Contest  Winners 

H The  winners  of  this  month’s  contest 
for  the  best  netvs  story  and  most 
humorous  anecdote  concerning  NBC 
life  are  Fred  Kirkland,  former  man- 
aging editor  of  the  Review  and  now 
in  Press,  for  his  resume  of  the  Re- 
view’s history  to  date,  appearing  on 
page  one  of  this  issue  and  Guide  Bill 
Garden  for  his  and  Don  Mercer’s  ex- 
perience with  the  man  from  North 
Dakota,  also  printed  herein. 

Contributions  to  the  anecdote  con- 
test have  been  received  from  Pages 
Eldred,  Brennan,  Rittenhouse,  McCul- 
lough and  George  Malcolm,  our  Main 
Haller;  Guides  Sullivan,  Mercer,  Brown  and  Garden.  The 
second  pair  of  passes  to  the  Radio  City  Music  Hall  goes  to  Bill 
Garden. 

The  winners  are  going  to  see  an  old  friend  on  the  screen  for 
the  Music  Hall  assures  us  that  none  other  than  Eddie  Cantor’s 
new  picture,  “Strike  Me  Pink,’’  is  slated  to  be  the  feature 
presentation  starting  January  16th. 


A History  of  the 
Reception  Staff  Review 

By  FREDERIC  M.  KIRKLAND 

First  Prize  Winner  for  the  Best  News 
Story  of  the  Month 

■ On  September  10,  1934,  the  first 
issue  of  the  Reception  Staff  Review 
took  form;  on  the  9th  of  January, 
1935,  this  edition,  six  times  re-written, 
was  distributed  to  an  amazed  and 
unbelieving  group  of  NBCites.  The 
paper,  which  was  the  work  of  three 
guides  and  a hostess,  was  dedicated 
to  Mr.  John  R.  Carey  who  had  shown 
himself  to  be  the  one  man  outside  of 
the  Reception  Division  really  inter- 
ested in  the  development  of  such  a project.  The  first  edition 
received  a reasonably  warm  reception  but  was  universally 
criticised  for  the  fine  print  which  indeed  was  fine  enough  to 
make  it  scarcely  legible. 

The  second  issue,  which  was  everywhere  but  on  the  news- 
stands, came  out  in  February.  Readers  noted  two  things  in  par- 
ticular; the  type  was  so  large  that  there  was  no  room  for  the 


cr-/ 

Cyut  ipteAidcftl 

It  gives  me  pleasure  to  have  the  opportunity  of 
wishing  the  readers  of  the  Reception  Staff 
Review  a Happy  New  Year  through  its  columns. 
Upon  entering  my  new  duties,  one  of  the  first 
impressions  received  has  been  of  your  alert 
interest  and  attention  to  duty.  In  anticipating 
the  future,  / look  forward  to  being  a part  of 
an  organization  which  has  such  a wide  field 
for  public  service. 

Lenox  R.  Lohr. 


Can  t Get  Away  From  It! 

By  BILL  GARDEN 

First  Prize  Winner  for  the  Best  Anecdote  of  the  Month 

Ed.  Note:  One  Wednesday  afternoon  Guides  Mercer  and  Garden 
having  a day  of  respite  from  the  trials  and  tribulations  of  touring, 
hied  themselves  down  to  see  a show.  Here’s  the  tale  Bill  Garden 
unfolded  to  us: 

® During  intermission  an  elderly  gentleman  on  our  right  struck 
up  a conversation. 

Say!  said  he,  I m from  North  Dakota.  I’ve  been  attend- 
ing a dental  convention  here  in  town.  Got  three  women  with 
me,  but  they’re  shopping  so  I’m  trying  to  amuse  myself.  Oh! 
by  the  way,  I just  been  over  to  them  broadcasting  studios  in 
Radio  City.  Say,  they’re  wonderful!” 

For  the  next  15  minutes,  gentlemen,  so  ’elp  me,  he  regaled 
Don  and  me  with  a description  of  NBC  which  would  have  done 
credit  to  any  guide! 

Our  friend  left  for  the  hills  of  North  Dakota  with  this 
admonition,  “You  boys  go  right  down  now  and  buy  a 40c  ticket, 
and  you’ll  see  the  greatest  wonder  of  the  world.”  To  which 
Don  and  I answered  in  chorus,  “Yes,  sir!  we  will— tomorrow ! ” 
P-S.— The  contest  is  still  open  to  any  page,  guide,  or  hostess 
who  wishes  to  contribute  the  most  unusual  or  most  humorous 
incident  from  his  or  her  own  NBC  experience.  Those  two  passes 
to  the  Radio  City  Music  Hall  are  waiting  for  the  bester  of 
the  best. 


contents,  and  double  the  space  so  allotted  in  the  first  issue  was 
devoted  to  the  activities  of  guides  and  pages. 

The  salient  feature  in  the  third  issue  was  the  continuation  of 
Ruth  Keeler’s  “History  of  NBC”  which  was  the  harbinger  of 
a valuable  editorial  policy.  From  the  idea  born  in  Miss  Keeler’s 
column  the  editors  adapted  a maxim  which  served  as  a real 
criterion  To  know  NBC  is  to  know  how  NBC  functions.”  A 
definite  editorial  objective  thus  was  adopted.  The  executive 
interviewed  that  month  was  the  new  vice  president  and  treas- 
urer, Mr.  David  Rosenblum. 


The  fourth  edition  of  the  Revieiv  was  noteworthy  because  of 
the  inclusion  of  an  all-NBC  cross-word  puzzle.  “The  Spotlight 
of  the  Month”  also  dates  its 


beginning  to  this  issue.  The 
editors  were  chiefly  worried  at 
this  time  about  two  things: 
first,  how  to  gather  news  with- 
out the  cooperation  of  those 
for  whom  the  paper  was  in- 
tended, and  second,  how  to 
determine  what  opinion  of  the 
paper  was  entertained  by  the 
personnel  about  and  for  whom 
it  was  written. 

Th  e solution  to  problem 
number  one  took  form  in  an 
intensive  internal  promotional 
campaign  to  make  everyone 
( Continued  on  page  4 ) 


0 


JANUARY 


R < C f 


p 


RECEPTION  STAFF  REVIEW 

Official  organ  of  the  Reception  Staff  of  the  National  Broadcasting 
Company,  30  Rockefeller  Plaza,  New  York  City.  Published  monthly 
throughout  the  year. 


VOL.  II  JANUARY,  1936  NO.  1 


Frank  C.  Lepore,  Editor 
Ary  R.  Moll,  Managing  Editor 
Walter  Wiebel,  Circulation  Manager 

ASSOCIATES 

Walter  Clark  Frederic  M.  Kirkland 

D.  Caldwell  Davis  Alwin  D.  Foster 

Don  Gardiner 

CONTRI  BUTORS 

Don  Mercer  Martha  Trdeblood 

Bill  Garden  Ken  Ci  rtis 

Grace  Stillman  Andrew  Kinbacher 

Bruce  Macill 


To  Mr.  Lenox  R.  Lohr 

■ The  Reception  Staff  wishes  to  convey  to  you  its  warm  good 
wishes  upon  your  coming  to  NBC  as  our  new  president,  and 
to  promise  our  earnest  cooperation  in  performing  diligently 
our  function  as  NBC’s  direct  personal  contact  with  clients, 
agencies,  and  the  general  public. 

House  Rules  Committee 

■ Congratulations  are  in  order!  At  last  an  effective  check  has 
been  found  for  the  untidy  Locker  Room  situation.  Mr.  Carey’s 
order  calling  for  the  formation  of  a committee  to  deal  with 
this  problem  was  the  solution.  A group  representing  all  divi- 
sions pf  the  Page  and  Guide  staffs  hereafter  will  be  held 
directly  responsible  for  the  appearance  of  the  Locker  Room 
at  all  times.  Heretofore,  fine  furnishings  were  as  out  of  place 
within  the  “inner  sanctum’’  as  a ribbon  “mike”  on  the  Vox  Pop 
program,  but  with  the  allocation  of  responsibility  and  author- 
ity in  a Page  and  Guide  unit  to  deal  directly  with  this  problem 
the  many  planned  and  executed  improvements  can  be  appre- 
ciated. enjoyed,  and  protected.  The  representatives  appointed 
to  serve  on  this  committee  are:  Walter  Wiebel.  Chairman 
(Day  Guides)  ; Thomas  McFadden  (Evening  Guides)  ; Adam 
Gayeck  (Day  Pages),  and  Edward  Blainey  (Evening  Pages). 

Greetings,  West  Coast! 

■ We’ve  heard  about  our  new  Hollywood  Radio  Studios — and 
the  NBC  Reception  Staff  at  Radio  City  wants  to  get  acijuainted. 
The  Reception  Staff  Review  extends  heartiest  congratula- 
tions to  the  Hollywood  Reception  Staff  and  hopes  it  already 
has  started  a memorable  and  enjoyable  New  Year.  To  our 
former  comrade-in-arms.  Charlie  Young,  now  Captain  of 
Pages,  Hollywood — special  congrats.  Let’s  hear  from  you! 

Review  Circulation  Jumps 

■ The  Reception  Staff  Review  has  a total  circulation  of 
1200  copies  each  issue.  If  you  do  not  receive  this  publication 
regularly  and  would  like  to,  notify  the  Review  Office.  Room 
297,  by  mail  or  call  EXT.  220  between  II  A.M.  and  5 P.M. 


C[  As  this  is  the  first  column  of  Chatter  for  the  new  year,  it  is  most 
fitting  and  proper  to  start  out  on  the  right  foot . . . So— we  present 
our  New  War’s  Resolutions.  We  realize  that  they  probably  will  be 
forgotten  in  a week  or  so  but  still— we  give  you  NEW  \ EAR’S 
RESOLUTIONS. 

RECEPTION  RESOLVES... 

C[  BILL  COLLINS  ...  to  get  out  his  old  clarinet  and  play  it  as  he 
used  to  years  ago. 

BOB  ELDRED  . . . to  bowl  a better  game  than  last  year  (which 
isn’t  very  difficult). 

C[  ERNIE  CLARK  ...  to  continue  to  be  the  best  dressed  man  in 
Reception. 

C[  JOHN  BAKER  ...  to  cut  his  lunches  down  to  a mere  six  sand- 
wiches, four  apples  and  two  quarts  of  milk. 

G[  "JACKIE”  BRENNAN...  to  get  up  a new  routine— finally. 
C["H.APPY’’  W'ACENMAN  . . . to  stop  wearing  those  loud  ties. 

C[  ED  H.AYES.  . . to  hit  high  "C”  without  being  hit. 

G[  ED  LOLLEY  ...  to  show  the  fellows  how  to  make  model  air- 
planes, a hobby  which  has  won  him  many  medals  and  wide  recog- 
nition. 

C[  MRS.  JUDGE  ...  to  continue  to  give  a smile  with  each  tour  ticket 
she  sells. 

(T"CAPT.  BLIGH”  MOCARSKI . . . to  get  a bigger  whip  with 
which  to  haggle  his  mutineers. 

C[  JIM  GIBNEY  ...  to  write  another  song  and  sing  it  on  the  next 
Brass  Buttons  Revue. 

((PAUL  RITTENHOUSE  . . . to  buy  a new  suit  iust  as  he  does 
every  leap  year. 

((  HARRY  WEIR  ...  to  get  a new  soap  box. 

((TILDEN  BROWN  ...  to  get  a shorter  hair-cut.  if  possible. 

((  WALTER  MACOMBER  ...  to  trade  his  hat  for  a later  model. 
((  DONALD  CAIN  ...  to  be  posted  on  the  eighth  floor  for  one  year 
more  and  then  retire  on  a pension. 

((ALL  THE  PAGES  AND  GUIDES...  to  make  all  penalties 
unnecessary. 

((  ALL  OFFICERS  ...  to  cease  all  unnecessary  penalties. 

C(  And  so  it  goes  . . . till  next  issue.  .So  long. 


1936 


».  ( c f 


WE  TAKE  A BOW 

Mark  Woods,  Assistant  Executine  Vice  President ; I think  you 
and  your  associates  have  done  a splendid  job  on  the  present  issue  of 
the  "Reception  Staff  Review.”  I like  the  layout  of  the  publication 
and  find  its  contents  interesting  and  well  written.  Also,  I think  it  has 
done  a great  deal  to  promote  good  will  among  the  members  of  the 
organization.  I wish  you  every  success  in  the  continuance  of 
this  work. 

A.  L.  Ashby,  Vice  President  and  General  Counsel;  Congratu- 
lations on  your  first  anniversary.  Congratulations  also  on  the  changes 
which  have  been  evidenced  during  the  first  year  of  the  Reception 
Staff  Review.  This  indicates  initiative,  progress  and  constructive 
planning,  which,  in  turn,  reflects  the  same  things  in  those  who  are 
responsible  for  the  publication  of  the  Review.  1 believe  the  Review 
to  be  a goodwill  builder  for  our  Company  and  if  it  continues  to  grow 
as  it  has,  it  should  fill  a real  place.  The  best  of  good  things  for  the 
new  year  to  all  those  who  are  contributing  to  tbe  success  of  the 
Review. 

Edgar  Kobak.Pice  President  in  Charge  of  Sales;  Congratula- 
tions on  the  December  issue  of  tbe  Reception  Staff  Review.  You 
have  made  a real  publication.  It  is  well  edited  and  full  of  human 
interest  and  plenty  of  facts.  Keep  up  the  good  work.  It  is  worth  while. 

Franklin  Dunham,  Educational  Director,  ISBC;  This  is  the 
day  of  news.  When  the  stentor  in  ancient  Greece  was  provided  with 
news  he  gave  it  to  an  anxiously  waiting  world  within  hearing  of  his 
vocal  loud-speaker.  When  the  town  crier  shouted  his  news  in  the 
little  villages  of  England,  there  were  crowds  to  gather  around  him  to 
catch  his  breathing  words.  When  Caxton  pressed  the  first  copies  of 
news  from  movable  type,  there  must  have  been  quite  a few  inter- 
ested people  to  read  it  even  though  reading  was  then  an  accom- 
plishment limited  to  scholars. 

People  haven’t  changed. 

Now  newspaper  extras  and  radio  bulletins  at  frequent  intervals 
bring  the  latest  news  to  millions  who,  by  virtue  of  a democratic  sys- 
tem of  education,  have  learned  to  read  and  understand  what 
they  read. 

I look  upon  your  splendidly  conceived  venture  in  journalism  as 
our  own  NBC  newspaper.  I know  of  no  group  in  this  company  who 
could  edit  such  a paper  so  effectively  as  those  in  the  front-line 
trenches— those  who  meet  and  greet  the  public. 

It  is  your  opportunity  and  our  gain.  Let  us  both  use  it. 

Dramatic  Training  School  Planned 
For  Pages  and  Guides 

■ Members  of  the  uniformed  staff  who  are  interested  in  radio 
dramatic  work  are  happily  looking  forward  to  the  formation 
of  an  NBC  dramatic  training  school  for  guides  and  pages. 
Mr.  A.  H.  Morton,  Program  Manager,  and  Mr.  William  S. 
Rainey,  Production  Manager,  have  expressed  their  interest 
and  have  kindly  offered  their  cooperation  in  this  new  movement 
to  uncover,  train,  and  if  possible,  use  dramatic  talent  in  the 
Reception  Staff.  Revealing  his  usual  enthusiasm  in  all  pro- 
gressive ventures  of  his  staff,  Thomas  Tart  readily  granted  his 
permission,  and  offered  his  support  and  cooperation. 

It  is  hoped  that  one  or  two  NBC  production  men  will  offer 
their  services  as  instructors,  and  that  classes  will  be  arranged 
so  that  both  night  and  day  men  will  be  able  to  attend  without 
interfering  with  their  regular  duties.  A brief  survey  revealed 
that  a large  number  of  men  are  sufficiently  interested  to  attend 
dramatic  classes  on  their  own  time.  Dom  Davis,  instigator  of 
the  movement,  is  soliciting  the  support  of  those  interested  in 
radio  drama,  asking  that  they  give  their  names  to  him. 


Spotlight 

Shines  On:  — 

■ Otto  Philip  Brandt,  who  after  two  years  of  progressive 
work  in  Reception  as  page,  office  man  sergeant,  and  finally  as 
Assistant  Reception  Supervisor,  has  earned  a promotion  to 
the  Station  Relations  Department.  He  is  now  in  charge  of 
broadcast  tickets  for  that  department,  handles  good-will  con- 
tact letters,  and  makes  entertainment  arrangements  for  the 
visiting  NBC  station  managers  and  their  guests. 

Ted  Thompson,  our  new  Assistant  Reception  Supervisor, 
now  assisting  Mr.  Tart  in  day  operations.  His  new  promotion 
was  due  mainly  to  the  efficiency  he  displayed  as  an  evening 
page  officer  in  reorganizing  studio-floor  operation.  Ted’s  ability 
to  get  along  exceptionally  well  with  the  men  under  him  has 
already  proved  a considerable  asset  to  him  in  his  new  super- 
visory capacity. 

John  Mills,  who  deserves  a bouquet  for  the  rapidity  with 
which  he  oriented  himself  in  NBC  as  a page  and  gained  a com- 
prehensive knowledge  of  staff  functions.  This,  coupled  with  his 
past  experience  in  handling  large  groups  similar  to  our  studio 
audiences,  has  made  him  the  newest  night  page  officer. 

We  Wonder 

■ Whether  Adele  Fort’s  suggestion  that  a certain  Special 
Eventer  be  supplied  with  a portable  ‘phone  wouldn’t  save  the 
Maloney  “children”  a lot  of  headaches  after  all? 

Whether  the  “Continuity  Acceptance”  department  will  be 
joined  by  an  “Artist  Acceptance”  to  check  on  the  appearance 
of  the  program  when  television  steps  in? 

If  Mr.  William  Le  Roy  Marshall’s  endurance  will  last  to 
knock  out  the  remaining  flaws  in  the  Reception  Glee  Club’s 
singing?  He  has  continued  his  voluntary  coaching  after  the 
Brass  Button  Revue  broadcast  and  is  doing  a fine  job  assist- 
ing us. 

How  we  can  coax  the  sound  effects  department  not  to  sit  on 
the  hostess’  desk  during  its  free  time  between  programs? 

If  one  of  our  readers  couldn’t  devise  some  means  to  deaden 
the  noise  of  closing  elevator  doors  on  the  fifth  studio?  The 
guides  explaining  the  transmitter  model  at  that  point  have  a 
difficult  time  overriding  the  noise. 

If  Mr.  Tuthill’s  letter  to  Service  and  Reception  setting  the 
Artist  Service  Department  lectures  for  Reception  on  January 
6th,  13th,  20th,  and  27th  was  prompted  by  the  query  in  this 
column?  If  so,  we  wish  to  thank  him  and  state  that  other  places 
are  still  open. 

How  much  the  elevator  operators  would  appreciate  a “hang- 
ing chair”  from  the  elevator  rails  so  they  could  rest  a couple 
of  seconds  on  the  9th  floor  and  thus  improve  their  daily 
efficiency? 

Guides  in  Danger 

® It’s  getting  so  that  our  NBC  guides  aren’t  safe  any  more! 
Without  warning  the  most  harmless  looking  tourist  pipes  up 
with  an  offer  to  YE  GOLDEN-VOICED  GUIDE  to  accept  a 
position  as  an  announcer  on  some  station  down  South.  St. 
George  goes  to  WLVA,  Virginia,  and  now  John  Newhouse  goes 
to  Maryland’s  WFMD  at  Frederick.  It’s  an  epidemic! 


JANUARY 


Let’s  Get  Acquainted 

■ You  ought  to  know 
Thomas  (we  think  of  him 
as  Tommy)  Tart  of  the 
Bronx. 

— because  it  was 
through  his  effort  and  co- 
operation as  Reception 
Supervisor  that  the  very 
Review  which  you  now 
are  reading  was  estab- 
lished and  has  grown  to 
its  present  size. 

— because  he  is  fully 
deserving  of  the  progress 

he  has  shown.  From  the  “littlest  shaver”  in  a small  Italian 
village  he  has  come  to  be  Reception  Supervisor  at  the  NBC. 
He  has  arrived  via  Evander  Childs  High  School,  a time  at 
Fordham  University,  six  months  as  a page,  a sojourn  in  the  old 
Concert  Bureau  and  as  Mr.  Almonte’s  representative  at  the  old 
Times  Square  studio. 

— because  he,  too,  likes  to  have  four  coat  hangers  in  his 
locker. 

— because  he  shows  more  than  a mere  academic  interest  in 
the  problems  of  “the  men  in  blue,”  we  give  you  Thomas  Tart. 
And  he  is  the  “Tops.” 


Static 

■ Definition  of  a town  crier:  A guide  who  can’t  take  it. 

* * * 

TOUR  TOPICS 

Leaving  the  Radio  Tubes  exhibit  a woman  asked  Jim  Goode 
if  sound  came  in  any  other  color  but  green. 

* * * 

Ed.  Note:  For  Facts  and  Figures  see  Foster. 

* * * 

MAN  ABOUT  TOWN 

Over  the  holidays  Tony  Faillace  happened  to  take  a tour 
into  a rehearsal  of  a girls’  choir.  One  of  the  tourists  asked  who 
they  were.  Don  Juan  replied,  “I  don’t  know  the  girls,  so  they 
must  be  from  some  college  west  of  the  Mississippi.” 

* * * 


Aftermath  of  Christmas — 

Link  the  name  of  a motion  picture  with  that  of  one  of  our 
potential  executives,  e.g. 

“The  Littlest  Rebel” — Leak. 

“I  Dream  Too  Much” — Gibney. 

“Crime  Without  Passion” — Davis. 

“Death  Takes  a Holiday” — Mercer. 

— How  many  can  you  think  of? 

* * * 


Short  Short  Story — 

The  Boones  were  an  old  Kentucky  family.  But  we  never 
heard  of  the  Doggie  before. 

Boondoggling  means:  making  something  useful  out  of  odds 
and  ends. 


Famous  Finales — 

Characters  that  are  used  in  this  column  are  fictitious.  If  the 
name  of  any  living  person  is  used,  it  is  a coincidence  . . . 

* * * 

EMERGENCY  EXIT 

A History  of  the  Reception  Staff  Review 

( Continued  from  page  1 ) 

conscious  of  the  Review’s  purpose  and  function.  This  netted 
results.  Contributions  soon  overflowed  the  Review  copy  drawer, 
showing  that  the  majority  were  interested  and  willing  to  do 
their  share  in  helping  to  make  the  Reception  Staff  Review 
a more  accurate  and  authentic  reflector  of  life  in  the  NBC 
studios. 

The  article  by  Mr.  E.  P.  H.  James  dealing  with  the  functions 
of  the  Sales  Promotion  Department  was  the  most  significant 
story  of  the  fifth  number.  It  demonstrated  how  the  Review 
was  fulfilling  its  purpose  of  mirroring  Reception  life  as  well 
as  practicing  what  it  preached — “To  know  NBC  is  to  know 
how  NBC  functions.”  The  idea  of  encouraging  lectures  on  inter- 
departmental activity  which  Mr.  Burke  Boyce  had  inaugurated 
was  taking  form. 

In  the  sixth  issue  Mr.  A.  L.  Ashby,  Vice  President  and  Gen- 
eral Counsel,  not  only  described  the  activities  of  the  Legal 
Department  at  length,  but  was  one  of  the  first  executives  openly 
to  recognize  the  feasability  of  promoting  pages  and  guides  to 
positions  within  the  company  which  would  otherwise  be 
offered  to  people  outside. 

In  September,  1935,  with  an  editorial  staff  of  thirteen,  the 
Reception  Staff  Review  proudly  announced  its  seventh  issue 
— which  was  legible,  compact,  pertinent,  and  well-organized. 
It  contained  a scoop  on  television  (as  outlined  by  Mr.  0.  B. 
Hanson),  and  a new  column  called  “Let’s  Get  Acquainted.” 

The  eighth  edition  carried  on  with  the  editor’s  policy  of 
hoosting'the  Reception  Staff  under  the  very  capable  guidance 
of  Mr.  Tart  and  the  endeavor  to  simplify  the  mechanics  of 
publication.  Many  of  the  problems  of  making  head-lines, 
setting  up  copy,  getting  the  paper  back  from  the  printer  in  less 
than  two  weeks,  and  keeping  within  the  budget,  had  meanwhile 
been  solved.  Mr.  Frank  S.  Reynolds,  manager  of  the  Drafting 
Department,  helped  with  the  head  lines;  Mr.  Wayne  Randall 
of  Press  made  valuable  suggestions  as  to  the  make-up;  Mr. 
Patterson,  Mr.  Kobak,  and  Mr.  Rosenblum  saw  to  it  that  the 
paper  was  financially  possible.  Mr.  Carey  helped  to  eliminate 
most  of  the  obstacles  which  the  paper  had  to  hurdle  on  its  way 
from  the  editorial  office  (which  was  then  more  of  a dream 
than  a reality)  to  the  readers. 

Through  the  cooperation  of  Mr.  Roux  of  Advertising,  and 
Messrs.  Chizzini  and  Bullard  of  Sales  Promotion,  No.  9 proved 
to  be  tbe  best-looking  issue  to  date. 

Finally,  instead  of  the  usual  four-page  edition,  the  December 
and  last  issue  of  the  Review  for  1935  blossomed  forth  as  an 
8-page,  printed  journal,  reaching,  for  the  first  time,  the  high 
standard  of  presentation  which  the  staff  had  long  sought  to 
achieve.  Letters  of  commendation  poured  in  from  all  quarters. 
It  seemed  from  all  indications  that  the  Review  definitely  had 
set  the  proper  course  and  was  bound  for  a pleasant  voyage. 
The  editors  hoped  that  perhaps  the  time  would  come  soon  when 
our  little  paper  would  be  something  more  than  a luxury. 


VOL  II 


No.  2 


FEBRUARY,  1936- 


NBC  Dramatic  School 
Inaugurated 

■ The  plans  to  offer  radio  dramatic 
training  to  talented  guides  and  pages 
have  materialized.  Mr.  Edwin  R.  Wolfe, 
production  man,  has  mapped  out  a thor- 
ough course  covering  all  phases  of 
radio  dramatic  work.  The  course  will 
be  given  over  a period  of  six  months, 
and  includes  lectures  on  “The  Funda- 
mental Principles  of  Acting,”  the  the- 
ater, motion  pictures,  and  radio;  prac- 
tical class  work  with  and  without  scripts 
in  hand,  ad  libbing  and  script  writing; 
lectures  and  practical  class  work  on 
stage  direction  and  management;  and 
finally  the  presentation  of  a radio  play 
to  be  written,  directed,  announced,  and 
acted  by  the  members  of  the  class. 

The  first  meeting  was  held  in  Studio 
3E,  on  Monday,  February  3.  Until 
further  notice,  the  class  will  meet  every  Monday  morning  at 
eleven.  Mr.  Wolfe  is  one  of  the  leading  authorities  on  the  produc- 
tion of  radio  programs,  and  at  one  time  was  associated  with  the 
American  Academy  of  Dramatic  Arts. 

Whos  the  Guide  Staff’s  Best 
News  Hawk? 

B If  Gordon  H.  Mills’  plans  materialize,  we’ll  soon  have  an  active 
contest  under  way  to  discover  the  guide  with  the  best  news 
sense.  Each  recording  turned  in  will  be  classified  according  to 
its  news  value  and  contents.  The  winning  record  will  be  for- 
warded to  the  Press  Department,  which  will  rewrite  the  story 

and  release  it  to  newspapers  from 
coast-to-coast.  Credit  will  be  giv- 
en to  the  guide  responsible  for 
collecting  the  information  as  well 
as  an  additional  prize  as  yet  un- 
determined. 

Due  to  the  added  interest  in 
radio,  NBC,  and  the  tour,  the 
new  recording  apparatus  in  the 
ABC  exhibit  affords  us  an  ex- 
cellent opportunity  to  study  the 
reactions  of  our  visitors  while 
adding  greater  appeal  to  the  tour 
as  a whole.  Further  developments 
will  be  printed  in  another  issue 
of  the  Review. 


Pat  Kelly  Keeps  Promise 

■ With  sincere  enthusiasm  we  write 
of  recent  developments  in  Pat  Kelly’s 
Announcing  Division.  He  has  fulfilled 
— to  the  unqualified  delight  of  all  im- 
patiently ambitious  guides  and  pages— 
his  promises  of  a year  ago.  He  has  ex- 
ecuted his  policy  of  giving  everyone 
a chance  to  prove  his  worth;  none  of 
us  ask  more  than  that. 

Last  year  announcing  classes  in  elo- 
cution, foreign  languages,  and  mike 
technique  were  inaugurated  under 
Commander  Cusachs.  Ten  guides  were 
admitted  to  the  first  group  of  lectures. 
This  year,  Mr.  Kelly  revised  the  pro- 
cedure and  thought  that  it  might  be 
wise  to  select  a few  of  the  more  tal- 
ented aspirants  to  act  as  announcers’ 
assistants  during  this  period  of  train- 
ing. Four  men  were  selected  from  the 
ranks — Leak,  Cook,  Roberts,  and  Mc- 
Carthy. They  practiced  pushing  buttons,  working  “standbys,” 
and  occasionally  announced  sustainings. 

Consequently,  when  an  opening  occurred  last  month,  the 
Reception  Staff  representatives  were  given  auditions  and  were 
able  to  perform  more  like  professionals  than  amateurs;  they  knew 
what  it  was  all  about. 

The  first  audition  resulted  in  the  selection  of  Page  Alvin  Rob- 
inson from  far-away  Oklahoma.  At  the  age  of  twelve  he  captured 
his  first  oratorical  wreath;  later,  he  showed  talent  as  a singer. 
The  “Mikado”  of  Gilbert  and  Sullivan,  and  the  “Red  Mill”  by 
Victor  Herbert  are  listed  among  his  high  school  dramatic  ven- 
tures. Perhaps  most  valuable  of  all,  however,  was  the  experience 
he  derived  from  a year  and  a half  on  the  announcing  staff  at 
Tulsa’s  KVOO. 

On  Lincoln’s  Birthday  a second  audition  was  held.  This  time 
Jack  McCarthy  ran  off  with  top  honors.  Jack  has  been  an  NBC 
page  since  August  2,  1933.  He  was  valedictorian  of  his  class  at 
Commerce  High  School  and  has 
served  his  turn  in  local  minstrel 
shows,  chorals,  church  affairs, 
and  miscellaneous  parties,  giving 
him  much  valuable  training  in 
delivery,  diction,  and  cultivating 
a good  clear  voice.  He  admits 
that  his  elocutionary  powers  were 
developed  and  enriched  during 
his  page  days  when  arguing  him- 
self out  of  penalties  with  the  of- 
ficers afforded  him  the  best  op- 
portunity for  developing  strong 
lungs,  good  articulation  and  to 
think  standing  up. 


Don  Meissner  Wins  Recognition 
on  Major  Bowes  Amateur  Hour 


Photo  by  Ray  Lee  Jackson,  NBC  Studio 


Guide  Donald  Meissner  is  shown  with  Major  Bowes 
after  the  performance  in  which  Don  sang  himself 
into  prominence  by  winning  third  prize  on  the 
Major’s  Amateur  Hour. 

(Story  on  Page  4) 


Davis  Wins 

News  Prize 

This  month’s  winner  of 
the  Reception  Staff  Re- 
view’s first  prize  for  the 
best  news  reporting  is 
Guide  D.  Caldwell  Davis, 
whose  alertness,  efficiency, 
writing  ability,  and  will- 
ingness to  cooperate  have 
won  him  the  right  to  the 
Review’s  highest  award. 


FEBRUARY 


P.  < c < 


RECEPTION  STAFF  REVIEW 

Official  organ  of  the  Reception  Staff  of  the  National 
Broadcasting  Company,  30  Rockefeller  Plaza,  New 
York  City.  Published  monthly  throughout  the  year. 

VOL.  II  FEBRUARY,  1936  NO.  2 

Frank  C.  Lepore,  Editor 
Ary  R.  Moll,  Managing  Editor 
Walter  A.  Wiebel,  Circulation  Manager 

ASSOCIATES 

Walter  Clark  Frederic  M.  Kirkland 

D.  Caldwell  Davis  Alwin  D.  Foster 

Bill  Garden  Don  Gardiner 

CONTRIBUTORS 

Berger  Hacerth  Harry  Wichtman 


Bitterly  Contested  Locker  Room  Chess 
Ch  ampions  hip  Reach  es  Finals 


Photo  by  William  Haussler,  NBC  Studio 


We  Are  Deeply  Grateful 

® Even  our  constant  association  with  NBC  operations  in  this 
busy  whirl  of  broadcasting  fails  to  acquaint  us  with  the  intricate 
workings  of  our  vast  organization.  But  the  informal  chats  we’ve 
had  on  the  functions  and  operations  of  our  various  departments 
did  much  to  give  us  a closer  insight  into  their  set-up  and  part  they 
play  in  the  NBC  picture. 

We  wish  to  express  our  sincere  gratitude  and  warmest  regards 
to  Messrs.  Daniel  S.  Tuthill,  Business  Manager  of  Artists  Service; 
Wayne  L.  Randall,  Manager  of  NBC’s  Press  Dept.;  and  0.  B. 
Hanson,  Chief  of  our  Engineering  Division.  Our  appreciation 
never  ends  for  the  interest  shown  by  those  executives  who  have 
found  time  to  talk  to  us  informally  on  their  respective  duties. 
It  has  been  through  these  lectures  that  we  have  increased  our 
knowledge  of  NBC. 

Opportunity  Knocking 

■ The  new  recording  device  on  the  studio  tour  offers  tremendous 
possibilities  for  every  wide-awake  guide  to  exercise  his  creative 
ability  and  originality,  display  personality,  show  initiative,  and 
develop  voice  culture.  Here’s  the  chance  to  gather  valuable  and 
vital  information  for  Guest  Tojirs  as  well  as  increase  your  oppor- 
tunities for  recognition. 

Contest  Winners  for  February 

B A new  month  . . . two  new  contest  winners  in  the  Review’s 
contests  for  the  best  news  story 
and  for  the  most  humorous  inci- 
dent of  the  month.  Dom  Davis 
and  Dick  Diament  receive  the 
four  passes  to  the  Radio  City  Mu- 
sic Hall,  where  they  will  see  “Fol- 
low the  Fleet,”  the  new  musical 
show  with  Fred  Astaire,  Ginger 
Rogers,  and  Harriet  Hilliard, 
which  starts  Thursday,  Febru- 
ary 20th. 


Guide  Jack  McGhie,  chess  finalist,  is  shown  capturing  one  of  Page 
Ralph  Brown's  men  in  the  elimination  playoffs  while  Guide  Alwin 
Foster  (in  mufti)  is  offering  "Mac"  some  confidential  advice  on  strategy 
while  the  interested  onlookers,  reading  from  left  to  right,  are  Guides 
Stanley  Heeb  (seated),  and  Bill  Hoffman,  Page  Roger  Von  Roth,  Guide 
Ed  Lolley,  Pages  James  McCullough,  Gordon  Logue  and  Philip  Crosbie. 
This  scene  is  an  every-day  occurrence  in  the  Locker  Room,  what  with 
the  chess  fever  hitting  a new  high  for  the  month. 

Chatter 

(C  GO  AHEAD  AND  SUE  ME  BUT  . . . Paul  Rittenhouse  has 
once  again  donned  the  winter  flannels  . . . and  incidentally  they 
look  like  last  year’s  repeats  to  us  . . . Why  does  Leon  Leak  insist 
on  wearing  a size  sixteen  collar  when  he  can  only  boast  of  a size 
twelve  neck  . . . and  that’s  nothing  to  boast  about. 

fC  Bob  Eldred  wants  it  known  that  on  the  day  that  all  the  lights 
went  out,  NBC  presented  its  regular  weekly  drama  entitled 
“Lights  Out”. . . Bill  Collins  almost  passed  out  recently  when  a 
woman,  inquiring  about  the  tours  said,  “Is  it  necessary  that  we 
watch  a broadcast?  I’d  rather  not”  . . . Bruce  Magill  has  deserted 
his  usual  Broadway  interests  and  has  decided  to  try  his  hand 
at  writing  poetry,  which  explains  why  he’s  letting  his  hair 
grow  . . . Dom  Davis  is  now  out  of  circulation.  He  was  married 
last  month  to  Miss  Rosemary  Brush  and  the  best  man,  literally 
speaking,  was  Reid  Jorgensen,  former  guide  . . . And  just  a tip, 
drop  in  to  Room  297  and  see  the  most  curious  donation  we  have 
ever  received — The  horse  with  his  tail  where  his  head  ought  to 
be  . . . Who  is  the  culprit  who  insists  on  mixing  up  Miss  Beck’s 
three  phones  so  that  she  can  never  pick  up  the  right  one  when 
it  rings?  . . . There’s  no  sense  to  this  one  but  “Speed”  McCullough 

remarked  one  day  last  week  that 
he  wished  NBC  pages  had  uni- 
forms like  the  fellows  in  the 
Music  Hall,  because  he  looks  so 
swell  in  a beret  . . . and  so, 
with  this  friendly  thought.  I’ll 
sign  off  . . . Keep  your  head  up 
. . . your  chest  out  . . . and  your 
stomach  in  or  first  thing  you 
know,  they’ll  be  putting  you  in 
one  of  those  gym  classes. 


? ? ? ?■ 

« • ♦ ♦ 

Listen!  all  you  good  people  of  NBC.  There’s  something 

you  must  know.  We’re  going  to but  wait  a 

minute!!  Don’t  miss  the  March  issue  of  the  Reception 
Staff  Review  for  this  announcement  of  vital  importance 
to  everyone  affiliated  with  the  NBC.  Will  you  be  on  the 
lookout  for  it? 


1936 


We  Wonder 

■ When  the  Page  and  Guide  Library,  in- 
troduced and  made  possible  by  the  splen- 
did gesture  of  Henry  Weston  in  donating 
fifty  books  for  this  purpose,  will  be  avail- 
able for  use? 

• How  many  people  know  that  the  chap 
who’s  been  acting  as  interpreter  for  our 
various  departments  is  none  other  than 
Dom  Davis,  one  of  the  Guide  Staff’s  Span- 
ish-speaking guides? 

■ Why  the  members  of  other  departments 
who  like  to  blossom  forth  as  “amateur 
guides”  in  taking  their  friends  through 
the  building  can’t  realize  that  a really 
good  job  can  usually  be  done  best  by  one 
who  is  used  to  taking  tours  and  knows 
how  not  to  inconvenience  the  guide  group 
coming  up  behind? 

■ If  any  of  the  readers  of  last  month’s 
item  on  contributions  to  the  NBC  General 
Library  have  just  put  off  bringing  in  their 
unwanted  books  and  then  forgot  about  it? 
The  library  still  can  use  them  to  good 
advantage. 


Believe  It  or  Not 

(With  Apologies  to  Mr.  Ripley) 

By  Richard  S.  Diament 

First  Prize  Winner  for 
Best  Anecdote  of  the  Month. 

■ While  working  at  the  Third  Floor  Desk 
on  the  evening  of  January  9th,  I received 
an  important  phone  call  for  Mr.  Warbur- 
ton  of  our  Production  Dept.  I located  him 
in  one  of  the  studios,  working  with  Tom 
Powers,  monologist,  on  the  .S.  C.  Johnson 
show.  As  I leaned  over  to  speak  to  Mr. 
Warburton,  I was  startled  to  hear,  “No, 
you  must  not  interrupt.  You  cannot  speak 
to  Mr.  Warburton  . . . Can’t  you  see,  he 
is  in  conference.”  Mr.  Warburton  also  was 
surprised  at  this  outburst  and  excused 
himself. 

It  seems  that  by  the  most  freakish  of 
coincidences  the  quoted  passage  was  part 
of  the  script  which  Mr.  Powers  was  re- 
hearsing at  the  very  moment  I entered 
the  studio  to  call  Mr.  Warburton  to  the 
phone.  A further  coincidence  revealed  that 
the  Mr.  Warburton  in  the  script  was  not 
our  production  director,  but  one  of  the 
characters  Mr.  Powers  was  impersonating. 
After  the  rehearsal  amiable  Mr.  Powers 
presented  me  with  a copy  of  the  script, 
pointing  out  the  trick  passage. 


H Back  in  November,  Russ  Morgan  heard 
Page  Lewis  Julian  sing.  He  liked  the  voice 
and  surprised  Julian  by  promising  him  a 
job  to  sing  with  his  orchestra  as  soon  as 
they  found  a steady  employer.  At  that 
time  Morgan  had  a sustaining  program 
on  the  NBC  Blue  network. 

Russ  Morgan  did  not  forget  his  promise. 
On  February  1st  he  called  Julian  at  NBC 
and  offered  him  the  job  as  soloist  with  his 
orchestra  which  had  just  signed  a contract 
to  play  at  the  Biltmore  Hotel.  A week  of 
intensive  rehearsing  followed;  and  on 
Thursday,  February  6th,  Russ  Morgan 
and  his  “Music  in  the  Morgan  Manner” 
made  his  debut  in  the  Supper  Room  of  the 
Hotel  Biltmore,  with  Julian  as  male  soloist. 

Thus  did  the  proverbial  “break”  land 
Lew  into  the  vocation  which  had  been  his 
secret  ambition.  He  now  sings  nightly  to 
a smart,  discriminating  audience  which 
often  includes  such  celebrities  as  Rudy 
Vallee  and  Paul  Whiteman. 

Lewis  D.  Julian  was  employed  by  the 
National  Broadcasting  Co.  on  April  22, 
1935.  He  had  just  received  his  A.B.  degree 
from  the  University  of  Wichita,  Kansas. 
The  first  two  years  of  his  college  education 
were  spent  at  Washington  State  Univer- 
sity. While  a college  student  he  was  on  de- 
bating teams,  played  basketball  and  tennis 
(his  only  regret  concerning  tennis  is  that 
he  has  never  succeeded  in  beating  Ritten- 
house),  sang  in  glee  clubs,  and  took  part 
in  dramatics.  During  the  nine  months  he 
has  been  employed  by  NBC  he  has  had 
two  promotions — to  the  position  of  guide 
in  September,  1935,  and  as  assistant  to 
our  friend.  Bill  Marshall,  in  the  Music 
Library  late  in  December.  We  always  knew 
Lew  to  be  a hard  worker,  a swell  com- 
panion, and  a true  friend  to  all  who  have 
had  the  pleasure  of  knowing  him  well. 

Listen  to  Russ  Morgan  presenting,  “Mu- 
sic in  the  Morgan  Manner”  and  to  Lewis 
Julian  singing  your  favorite  songs  on 


».  ( c ( r 


Mondays  at  10:30  P.M.  over  the  NBC- 
WJZ  network  and  on  Thursdays  at  12:30 
A.M.  on  the  same  network. 

Next,  We  Present... 

■ WINDY  CITY  TOPICS  or  The  Country 
Cousin  Talks  Back,  a line  of  Chatter  de- 
voted exclusively  to  the  extracurricular 
activities  of  our  fellow  Chicago  Reception- 
ists, written  and  directed  by  our  able 
Chicago  correspondent,  “The  Loophound.” 
The  March  issue  of  the  Review  will  have 
complete  information  on  Page  2.  Look  for 
it  there! 


Reception 
Music  Guild 

■ Preparations  are  now  in  full  swing  to 
present  on  the  air  the  first  of  a series  of 
fifteen  minute  programs  by  the  Reception 
Staff  Music  Guild.  In  answer  to  a call  for 
scripts,  our  budding  script  writers  have 
showered  Mr.  Phillips  Carlin  with  enough 
librettos  to  keep  the  Guild  busy  for  weeks, 
that  is,  provided  all  the  manuscripts  are 
accepted. 

Thus  far  it  has  been  revealed  that  the 
first  program  will  include  songs  by  Dick 
Diament,  Ray  Sullivan,  the  Reception  Staff 
Glee  Club,  and  a still-to-be-discovered  trio 
of  blue  uniforms.  The  Glee  Club  is  being 
thoroughly  reorganized  and  trained  by 
Bill  Marshall  of  our  Music  Library. 

The  Reception  Music  Guild  has  an  audi- 
tion board,  headed  by  Mr.  Carlin,  and  it 
has  been  stated  that  only  good  talent  will 
be  accepted.  Several  auditions  already 
have  been  held.  If  this  venture  proves  suc- 
cessful, Mr.  Carlin  promises  to  have  a 
show  on  every  other  week. 

Al  Walkers  Gym 
Classes 

■ The  coming  of  Misses  Lee,  Sniffen  and 
Crawford  enlarges  Al  Walker’s  NBC  Girls’ 
Gym  Class  to  almost  a score.  Present 
members  are  Misses  Irvine  and  Kohl  of  the 
Treasurer’s  office;  Slieridan  and  Hassman 
of  Guest  Tours;  Slater  of  Press;  True- 
blood  of  Reception;  Nelson  of  First  Aid; 
Weightman  of  Audience  Mail;  Britten  of 
Artist’s  Service;  Barbour  of  Sales;  Hens- 
man  of  Office  Management;  Howard  of 
Stenographic;  and  Parker  of  Music  Li- 
brary. 


FEBRUARY 


H € C < P 


$ T fl  F F 


I Michael  J.  Gormley,  newly  appointed  First  Lieutenant  of  Guides; 
because  his  rapid  rise  to  his  present  position  of  responsibility  indicates 
the  esteem  in  which  he  is  held  by  his  associates. 


LEd.  Note:  The  author  of  this  series,  Major  Donald  Davis  Millikin, 
Manager  of  the  Telegraph  and  Code  Office  of  the  Radio  Corporation 
of  America;  has  had  a long  and  distinguished  career  in  the  field  of 
codes  and  ciphers.  He  was  graduated  from  the  Code  and  Cipher 
School  of  the  Riverbank  Laboratories,  Geneva,  Illinois,  in  1918. 
During  the  World  War,  Major  Millikin  served  in  the  Radio  Intelli- 
gence Section,  G-2  A-6  of  the  General  Staff  at  G.  H.  Q.,  A.  E.  F., 
Chaumont,  France.  After  the  Armistice  he  was  detailed  as  interpreter 
and  translator  in  French  and  German  at  Advance  G.  H.  Q.,  Trier, 
Germany.  For  the  past  four  years  he  has  been  conducting  classes  in 
Military  Cryptography  for  the  Military  Intelligence  Reserve  under  the 
auspices  of  G-2  Headquarters,  Governors  Island,  and  is  regarded  in 
military  and  civil  circles  as  being  one  of  the  foremost  code  and  cipher 
experts  in  the  United  States.] 

Cryptography  is  the  art  of  secret  writing  and  a cryptogram  is  a mes- 
sage having  a secret  meaning.  Codes  and  ciphers  are  the  two  principal 
systems  employed. 

Ciphers  are  divided  into  two  main  classes,  transposition  and  substitu- 
tion. In  a transposition  cipher  the  letters  or  words  of  the  plain  text 
retain  their  usual  meanings,  but  their  relative  positions  in  the  message 
are  changed  around  in  the  cipher  text. 

The  order  of  frequency  in  which  letters  appear  in  the  English 
language,  for  literary  text,  is: 

ETOANIRSHDLUCMPFYWGBVKJXZQ. 

The  vowels  constitute  about  40%,  consonants  L N R S T 30%, 
J K Q X Z 2%,  and  the  remaining  letters  28%  of  the  total.  If  the  count 
of  letters  in  any  cryptogram  gives  approximately  these  percentages, 
it  may  be  assumed  that  a transposition  cipher  has  been  used. 

MILLIKINK  No.  1. 

A sentence  from  the  July,  1935,  issue  of  the  Reception  Staff  Review: 
TODTOANICECICEDDSTO 
HOWEFPYPTHOHHIINOSM 
EGISAMITUTMWIRNIFUE 
RLLSNOSARFPYSRTMICR 
EALAYCTHEOANCAHETSS 


Meissner  Wins  Place  on 
Major  Bowes’  Hour 

B The  spotlight  shines  brightly  on  Guide  Don  Meissner  for  polling 
enough  votes  to  win  third  place  on  Major  Bowes  Amateur  Hour, 
Sunday,  January  26,  1936.  The  Goddesses  of  Fate  were  kind  to  Don 
when  they  led  Major  Bowes  into  a small  studio  where  Don  happened 
to  be  singing  by  himself.  The  "king  of  the  gong”  heard  him  and  im- 
mediately offered  him  a spot  on  the  Chase  & Sanborn  Hour. 

Meissner  is  twenty-one.  He  lives  in  Jamaica,  Long  Island,  where 
he  sang  with  the  high  school  glee  club  for  three  years.  After  spending 
a year  at  Catholic  University  in  Washington,  D.  C.,  he  gave  in  to  an 
old  urge  to  go  to  sea.  A year  at  sea  as  an  able-bodied  seaman  took  him 
to  all  the  corners  of  the  world.  After  his  sea-going  venture,  he  went 
back  to  college  at  New  York  University,  and  took  lessons  in  singing. 
Another  year  later  found  him  looking  for  a job.  After  several  months 
of  what  seemed  a hopeless  search,  he  landed  his  present  position  as 
guide  at  NBC. 

Don  is  athletic;  he  enjoys  boating  and  swimming,  in  which  sport 
he  won  several  championships  in  school  and  college.  He  doesn’t 
smoke  nor  drink,  but  he  has  a tremendous  appetite  for  raisins,  dates, 
and  figs.  He  still  has  a craving  for  the  sea,  but  now  he  intends  to 
resume  his  vocal  lessons,  and  hopes,  some  day,  to  make  singing  his 
vocation  if  opportunity  will  leave  the  door  open  to  him. 


Static 

The  best  in  a long  time  comes  from  Don  Mercer: 

Man:  Can  you  tell  me  what  type  of  elevators  you  use  in  the 
building? 

Mercer:  Mr.  Otis  regrets  but  they’re  Westinghouse. 

We’ll  wager  our  next  pay  check  he  had  that  prepared  for  a long 
time. 

» » « « 

Our  candid  camera  missed  a good  shot  of  Bob  Eldred’s  face 
on  the  second  floor  when  a lady  asked  him  if  she  had  to  go  down 
to  reach  the  ground  floor  ! ! ! 

» » 

“Papa”  Kinbacher  avers  that  the  guides’  rotating  day-off 
schedule  is  like  the  music — it  goes  round  and  round — only,  he 
doesn’t  know  where  it  comes  out. 

> » < c 

Why,  oh  why,  did  they  write  that  song? 

» » «(  « 

Ask  Hancock  sometime  what  a “sailor’s  bible”  is.  The  new 
carpet  sweeper  reminds  him  of  old  times. 

» > c < 

Anent  the  Locker  Room — 

We  can  remember  when  “Pretty  Boy”  Gayeck  was  just  a page 
and  not  an  illustration  ! ! ! 

» » < « 

If  you’ve  read  this  far,  thank  you. 


R € C ^ PI 


$ T R 


F F 


VOL  II 


No.  3 


MARCH,  1936 


Guide  Staff’s 
Best  News  Hawks 

• Guide  Instructor  John  Hancock, 

Guides  Frank  Koehler  and  Andrew 
Kinbacher  are  the  first  three  winners 
of  Guest  Tours  Gordon  H.  Mills’  week- 
ly contest  to  select  the  guide  submitting 
the  best  recorded  interviews.  These 
selections  are  based  on  an  A (Best) 

B (Usable)  C (Poor)  rating  system. 

Press’  Richard  Spencer  daily  selects 
the  newsiest  records  based  on  its  sec- 
tional news  value  and  writes  a story 
submitting  same  to  the  local  paper. 

The  guide  having  the  best  average  for 
the  week  is  dined,  wined,  and  taken  to 
one  of  a series  of  instructive  and  per- 
tinent lectures  conducted  by  Dale  Car- 
negie, noted  authority  on  Public  Speaking,  each  Thursday  night 
at  8 P.  M.  in  the  Grand  Ball  Room  of  the  Hotel  Victoria,  50th 
Street  and  7th  Ave.  Their  comments  were  enthusiastic. 

John  Hancock:  “It  was  the  most  worthwhile  evening  I have 
spent  in  my  life.” 

Frank  Koehler:  “An  evening  of  genuine  pleasure;  company — 
the  best;  dinner — delicious;  lecture — most  educational. 

Andrew  Kinbacher:  “A  very  interesting  and  educational  even- 
ing.” 

Chess  Tournament 


Make  d Note,  Please 

ANNUAL  DANCE 
FRIDAY,  MARCH  20. 

■ NBC’s  outstanding  social  event  of 
the  year,  a dance  sponsored  by  the 
Reception  Staff,  will  be  held  in  the 
Hotel  Great  Northern’s  beautiful 
Crystal  Room  on  Friday  evening, 
March  20th.  Rudy  Vallee’s  Connecti- 
cut Yankees  with  their  able  and  ver- 
satile leader  will  provide  music  for 
this  semi-formal  affair.  The  bids,  which 
are  limited  to  the  capacity  of  the  room, 
will  cost  $3.00  per  couple.  They  may  be 
obtained  by  calling  extension  542.  De- 
livery within  the  building  will  be  pro- 
vided. 

The  array  of  talent  for  the  evening 
comprises  some  of  radio’s  most  out- 
standing entertainers.  Fred  Allen,  Jack  Benny,  Morton  Downey, 
Fields  and  Hall,  Frank  Fay,  Lewis  Julian,  Russ  Morgan,  Tom 
Powers,  Lanny  Ross,  the  Twin  City  Foursome,  and  others  will 
be  there.  Howard  Petrie,  winner  of  the  1935  BBD&O  award  for  ex- 
cellence in  announcing,  will  act  as  master  of  ceremonies.  These 
attractions  make  it  imperative  for  everyone  to  don  his  best  “bib 
and  tucker”  and  drop  over  to  118  West  57th  St.  There  will  be 
hours  of  enjoyment  and  pleasant  associations.  Many  of  NBC’s 
biggest  executive  names  are  included  in  the  list  of  patrons  and 
they  have  all  agreed  to  oust  the  first  to  talk  shop  during  these,  our 
own  five  hours.  Circle  MARCH  20th  in  red  on  your  calendar!  This 
is  a “hop”  you  cannot  afford  to  miss. 


NEW  NEWS  SERVICE 

pARLY  in  April  a daily  infor- 
^ mation  service  containing  a 
pertinent  collection  of  articles, 
illustrations,  and  facts  of  value 
to  all  guides  will  appear  in  the 
Locker  Room.  This  service, 
edited  and  published  by  the 
editors  of  the  Reception  Staff 
Review  in  collaboration  with 
Guide  Instructors  John  Hancock 
and  Carl  Cannon,  will  be  called 
"You".  Watch  for  it!! 


■ Sometime  last  December  a box  of  chess  men  mysteriously  made 
its  appearance  in  the  locker  room.  In  a short  time  there  developed 
a considerable  group  of  good  players.  This  led  to  the  idea  of 
holding  a tournament.  Thanks  to  the  energy  of  Thomas  Tart, 
Ary  Moll  and  Bob  Eldred  the  boards  were  set  and  a prize  (two 
tickets  to  the  Music  Hall)  was  secured.  Since  then  the  bouts  have 
seen  progress.  So  conducive  are  they  to  quiet,  that  it  is  hoped  on 

all  hands  that  they  will  continue 
long.  It  is  truly  a pity  that  the 
finals  have  already  been  reached. 
After  fighting  their  way  through 
the  various  rounds.  Ary  Moll 
and  Jack  McGhie  are  now  at  it 
tooth  and  nail.  So  far,  out  of 
three  games  played  each  has 
taken  one  and  the  last  has  result- 
ed in  a draw.  Before  the  battle 
has  done  this  issue  will  have 
gone  to  press.  Time  will  reveal 
the  winner  — and  so  will  the 
Review.  Will  you  watch  next 
month’s  issue  for  the  results? 


Guide  Alwin  D.  Fos- 
ter merits  the  Recep- 
tion Staff  Review’s 
March  News  Award  for 
his  consistently  splen- 
did series  of  biographi- 
cal sketches  published 
under  the  title  of  “Let's 
Get  Acquainted”. 


News  Briefs 

■ Philatelically  minded  NBCites  are  invited  to  call  Mr.  Quinton 
Adams’  office  (Ext.  339)  and  register  their  names  as  possible 
members  of  the  new  NBC  Stamp  Club.  If  this  venture  is  success- 


ful, an  exclusive  NBC  exhibit 
will  find  a place  at  the  Third  In- 
ternational Philatelic  Exhibition 
to  be  held  at  the  Grand  Central 
Palace  from  May  9 to  17,  1936. 

■ The  millionth  tour  guest  to 
visit  NBC  will  make  some  Page, 
Guide  or  Hostess  $5  richer.  The 
holder  of  the  number  represent- 
ing the  state  or  country  the  guest 
is  from  will  receive  the  award. 
See  Dom  Davis  (Ext.  366)  for 
more  information.  We  expect 
Mr.  Million  sometime  in  April. 


MARCH . 


RECEPTION  STAFF  REVIEW 

Official  organ  of  the  Reception  Staff  of  the  National 
Broadcasting  Company,  30  Rockefeller  Plaza,  New 
York  City.  Published  monthly  throughout  the  year. 

VOL.  II  MARCH,  1936  NO.  3 

Frank  C.  Lepore,  Editor 
Ary  R.  Moll,  Managing  Editor 
Walter  A.  Wiebel,  Circulation  Manager 

ASSOCIATES 

Walter  Clark  Frederic  M.  Kirkland 

D.  Caldwell  Davis  Alwin  D.  Foster 

Bill  Garden  Don  Gardiner 

CONTRIBUTORS 

John  Hancock  Albert  Walker 


Worms  Make  Better  Bait  Than 
Strawberries  and  Cream 

■ Dale  Carnegie  tells  the  story  of  an  unsuccessful  fisherman.  The 
angler  in  question,  in  an  attempt  to  he  different,  haited  his  hook 
with  strawberries  and  cream.  After  hours  of  waiting  in  vain, 
he  was  still  surprised  that  no  fish  would  bite.  Was  not  this  deli- 
cacy as  tempting  and  as  healthful  as  the  ordinary  diet  of  worms? 

We  believe  (and  we  rest  firm  in  our  opinion  until  it  has  been 
proven  otherwise)  that  many  of  our  guides  are  comparable  to 
this  fisherman.  The  common  garden  variety  of  human  is  inter- 
ested in  other  humans.  Does  it  not  follow,  then,  that  the  best  way 
to  interest  humans  is  to  use  the  material  that  concerns  them?  An 
attempt  to  tie  in  common  experience  in  everyday  life  makes  a 
more  palatable  dish  than  the  intricacies  of  radio  technique  which 
are  very  attractive  to  us.  Can  you  offer  anything  to  the  contrary? 

Were  Betting  On  It 

How  About  You? 

• The  following  conversation  between  Rudy  (and  his  Connecti- 
cut Yankees)  Vallee  and  a Reception  Dance  Committeeman  took 
place  last  Thursday  night  after  Mr.  Vallee’s  broadcast. 

R.  D.  C.:  “.  . . and  can  we  count  on  your  being  there  definitely 
Friday  night,  March  20,  Mr.  Vallee? 

Rudy  Vallee:  “You  bet  you  can.  What  time  did  you  say?  9:00 
P.  M.  See  you  that  night.  So  long.” 

Can  the  dance  help  but  be  a success? 

Prize  Awards 

• The  passes  awarded  as  prizes  for  the  REVIEW’S  two  contest 
winners  will  be  used  to  witness  Hollywood’s  five  newest  stars  in 
“The  Country  Doctor,”  the  current  attraction  at  the  Radio  City 
Music  Hall  which  features  none  other  than  the  world’s  most 
celebrated  babies  — the  Dionne  quintuplets — and  the  prize 
winners,  Guides  Alwin  Foster  (News)  and  Andrew  Kinbacher 
(Anecdote)  have  already  aired  their  intentions  to  be  “up  in 
front,”  witnessing  the  newest  in  screen  entertainment. 


Windy  City  Topics 

or 

The  Countr'/  Cousin  Talks  Back 

■ Let  us  begin  our  little  column  by  thanking  the  Reception  Staff 
and  the  editor  of  this  paper  for  giving  us  the  opportunity  to  air 
some  of  the  opinions  and  observations  of  our  little  station  out  here 
in  the  hinterlands.  May  we  take  space  here  to  debunk  some  of  the 
ideas  many  of  the  New  York  personnel  have  about  us.  No,  the 
pages  don’t  wear  uniforms  similar  to  Kit  Carson’s  buckskins  and 
our  hostesses  stopped  wearing  bustles  at  least  three  years  ago. 
We  haven’t  had  a single  scalping  unless  you  want  to  count  the 
song  plugger  who  persisted  in  pushing  that  “Music  Goes  Round” 
number.  We  no  longer  have  a hitching  post  in  front  of  the  building 
and  we’ve  forsaken  the  cigar  store  Indian  for  a real  doorman  in  a 
store-bought  uniform.  You  don’t  have  to  be  a champion  hog  caller 
from  the  stockyards  to  get  announcer’s  audition  (but  it  helps) 
and  we’ve  stopped  trying  to  sell  the  original  Floradora  Sextet  to 
a would-be  client. 

In  all  seriousness  we’ve  been  following  the  columns  of  the  “Staff 
Review”  for  a number  of  months  and  we  all  agree  that  you’re 
doing  a swell  job. 

TEAR  ALONG  THE  DOTTED  LINE  . . . Russell  Sparks,  captain 
of  the  pages  is  planning  on  installing  a merit  system  such  as  the 
N.  Y.  boys  are  “enjoying”  . . . Night  manager  Edward  Cunning- 
ham’s interest  in  golf  has  diminished  considerably  since  he  put 
two  divots  in  a new  rug  while  winter  golfing  in  his  living  room 
. . . Checkroom  boy  Alfred  Schweitzer  came  thru  with  the  prize 
faux  pas  of  the  season  when  he  sent  announcer  Bob  Brown  home 
in  Sylvia  Clark’s  galoshes  during  the  recent  thaw  . . . Thomas 
Casey,  nimble  tongued  guide  whose  main  ambition  is  to  be  an 
announcer,  practices  two  hours  a day  speaking  into  an  empty 
oat-meal  box  . . . Lyle  Collett,  special  officer  is  coaching  one  of  the 
ranking  swimming  teams  in  the  Middle  West . . . Willa  Graff,  one 
of  the  most  beautiful  girls  ever  to  adorn  a hostess’  desk,  resigned 
to  loll  on  Miami  Beach  sands  . . . Edwin  Bailey,  Chicago’s  best 
dressed  page  boy,  has  finished  buying  last  year’s  overcoat  and  is 
now  starting  to  pay  for  that  Palm  Beach  suit  he  was  sporting 
around  last  summer  . . . Anne  Courtney,  our  charming  head 
hostess,  is  receiving  many  compliments  on  the  excellent  manner 
the  two  new  hostesses  have  fitted  into  the  picture  . . . How  do  you 
like  our  first  attempt  at  column  conducting.  (What!  you  still 
prefer  the  dentist’s  drill.)  See  you  soon. 

THE  LOOPHOUND 

Personals 

• Some  say  the  three  ladies  listed  below  have  qualified  for  honors 
accorded  only  to  females  and  the  Northwest  Mounted — they  got 
their  man. 

Leonia  Jochum,  Hostess 

Joan  Hensman,  Office  Management 

Virginia  Baldwin,  Hostess 

. . . But  we  know  definitely  that  Adam  Yung,  former  Page  Cap- 
tain now  in  Statistics,  has  definitely  gotten  himself  married. 

Harbingers  of  Spring,  eh  what? 

» » « € 

Subtle  Josher  Bob  Tormey,  erstwhile  guide  lieutenant,  has  been 
rewarded  with  an  important  niche  in  the  Music  Department  for 
his  conscientious  effort  as  a guide  and  guide  dispatcher. 

( Continued  on  Page  4) 


1936 


We  Wonder 


• If  whoever  conceived  the  idea  of  having 
ticket  callers  sign  receipt  blanks  for  their 
ducats  at  the  Main  Hall  desk  shouldn’t 
be  complimented  for  eliminating  a widely 
abused  vulnerable  point  in  ticket  distri- 
bution. 

• If  the  Better  Speech  Institute  of  Amer- 
ica’s generous  offer  of  a $7.50  set  of  books 
for  $1.85  of  Practical  English  and  Effec- 
tive Speech  to  any  individual  employee 
of  NBC  who  desires  to  purchase  them 
isn’t  worth  looking  into.  A sample  set  is 
on  display  in  Mr.  Quinton  Adams’  office 
(605)  and  you’re  invited  to  run  up  and 
take  a look-see  if  you’re  interested. 

• Some  musicians  will  ever  stop  getting 
two  nickels  for  a dime  from  our  cashiers 
and  stand  holding  hands  for  time  on  end. 
It  just  doesn’t  look  right. 

■ It  shouldn’t  be  compulsory  for  NBC 
employees  to  take  a studio  tour  (with  a 
guide)  just  as  employees  of  RCA  do. 

True  Story 

ANDREW  KINBACHER 

First  Prize  W inner  for 
Best  Anecdote  of  the 
Month 

® Guide  Kinbacher  came  walking  jaun- 
tily through  the  ninth  floor  foyer,  unsuc- 
cessfully attempting  to  twirl  his  swagger 
stick.  He  pushed  the  elevator  button 
lightly  and  then,  with  his  twenty-two  tour 
guests,  stood  waiting  for  the  special  car 
to  arrive. 

Soon  it  did  arrive  and  the  doors  slid 
noisily  open  and  half  the  party  stepped  in 
and  were  promptly  dispatched  to  the  mez- 
zanine. In  the  remaining  group  there  was 
a rather  heavy-set  gentleman,  with  dark 
horn-rimmed  glasses  and  a heavily  lined, 
weather  beaten  face.  His  hair,  rather 
sparse  on  top,  was  not  too  well  combed, 
and  his  dress  indicated  that  he  was  any- 
thing but  a dapper  man-about-town.  More- 
over he  was  chewing  vigorously. 

After  the  first  elevator  doors  closed  and 
the  car  had  sped  away  this  gentleman  ap- 
proached Guide  Kinbacher  and  said,  “Mr. 
Guide,  which  way  does  that  elevator  go?” 
Kinbacher  scratched  his  head  and  with 
an  inward  chuckle  replied,  “Why,  sir,  it 
goes — down.  This  is  as  far  up  as  they  go.” 
“Well,  that’s  all  I wanted  to  know,”  he 
countered.  “I  want  to  make  sure  I don’t 
swallow  my  chewing  gum  when  we  start.” 


CARLTON  McNAMEE 


■ Guide  Carlton  McNamee’s  death  from 
rheumatic  heart  on  February  29th  shocked 
all  of  us  who  knew  and  respected  him. 
“Mac”  as  he  was  more  affectionately 
known  to  everyone  will  be  missed  more 
than  words  can  express. 

When  he  died,  he  was  senior  guide  in 
point  of  service  having  been  affiliated  with 
NBC  since  March  11,  1930.  Many  remem- 
ber him  as  “the  young  man  with  the  big 
smile  and  the  swell  disposition”.  These 
characteristics  were  always  his  and  he 
never  once  lost  possession  of  them  right 
up  to  liis  last  moments  with  us.  We  shall 
always  remember  him  as  “Mac”  and  revere 
his  memory  as  a symbol  of  a personality 
who  made  our  human  relations  easier 
and  more  pleasant.  In  tribute  to  his  mem- 
ory we  can  find  no  news  equal  in  impor- 
tance to  us  to  occupy  the  remainder  of 
this  column  so  we  leave  it  blank. 

Ed. 


( C ( 


f T R F F 


More  N ews  Briefs 

■ Charming  Hostess  Alice  Wood  must  be 
“kinda”  proud  of  hubby  Howard  Petrie’s 
walking  off  with  Batten,  Barton,  Durstine, 
and  Osborn,  Inc.’s  1935  award  for  the 
announcer  possessing  best  evidence  in 
his  voice  of  “sincerity,  accurate  diction, 
naturalness,  persuasiveness,  and  lack  of 
mannerisms”.  Confidential:  We’re  all 

wondering  why  it  took  the  “powers  that 
be”  so  long  to  recognize  a good  announcer 
when  they  saw  one? 


B Guide  Don  Meissner,  playing  Fort 
Pierce,  Florida,  with  a Major  Bowes 
Amateur  Hour  unit,  dropped  us  a line 
to  say  he’s  getting  along  great  and  finding 
the  life  of  a “trouper”  interesting  but 
hard. 

Gateway’s  Lunch  Deliverer  Larry  Sara- 
tore  gets  his  big  chance  in  Big  League 
Basenall  when  on  March  21st  he  entrains 
for  Philadelphia  where  the  famous  Connie 
Mack  of  the  Athletics  will  put  Larry 
through  the  paces  as  rookie  catcher. 
We’re  wishing  you  the  best,  fella! 


• Script  Writer  Page  Bill  Gartland 
jumped  out  of  bed  late  one  Friday  night 
and  scratched  the  idea  for  his  fourth 
radio  script  on  the  back  of  an  old  envel- 
ope. Synopses,  revisions,  and  dialogue 
required  four  days.  By  Wednesday,  an 
original  20-page  manuscript  portraying 
the  legend  of  St.  Patrick  (455  A.  D.) 
woven  into  an  interesting  mythical 
romance  was  submitted  for  Continuity 
Editor  Louis  Titterton’s  perusal. 


■ RECEPTION  INVADES  THE  AD- 
VERTISING FIELD:  Notice  the  ad  on 
pages  61  and  62  in  the  March  14th  issue 
of  the  Saturday  Evening  Post  as  it  in- 
cludes Page  Roger  Von  Roth  in  the  role 
of  the  contented  country  shopkeeper 
radiating  much  contentment. 


B Guide  Ary  Moll  woke  up  one  bright 
Thursday  morning  to  find  recognition 
had  come  to  him  via  his  appearance  in  the 
Arnold  Constable  ad  on  Page  12  of  the 
March  7th  New  Yorker. 


■ To  rate  your  ingenuity  in  comparison 
to  your  friend’s  see  how  long  it  takes 
you  to  re-arrange  the  letters  in  the  word 
“CHESTY”  to  form  another  six  letter 
word.  Call  EXT.  220  if  you  can’t  solve  it. 


1936 


K ( C ( 


Acquainted 

You  ought  to  know  Ger- 
ard “Jerry”  Wolke  our 
guide  captain — 

because — his  progress 
rates  your  recognition.  In 
two  years  he  has  success- 
fully filled  several  officer- 
ships  on  the  reception  staff 
to  finally  arrive  in  his  pres- 
ent office  last  October. 

because  — his  education 
was  found  in  the  Woodrow 
Wilson  High  School  of  Weehawken,  N.  J.,  Marquand  Prep,  of 
Brooklyn  and  the  University  of  North  Carolina. 

because — his  activities  in  college  sports  have  gained  him  three 
letters,  two  minor  and  one  major.  He  only  regrets  that  there  was 
no  marble  team  on  the  roster  of  the  U.  N.  C.  Athletic  Asso- 
ciation. When  he  was  a youngster  he  was  the  “kijuckle  down” 
champion  of  every  town  he  lived  in.  Only  last  year  he  got  into 
a neighborhood  game  and  won  two  handfuls  with  five.  Because 
he  was  wont  to  leave  his  winnings  scattered  hither  and  yon 
about  the  house  his  mother  still  entertains  a gnawing  fear  of 
Stepping  into  an  urilighted  room  lest  a loose  marble  result  in 
her  assuming  involuntary  “horizontality.” 

because — his  travels  (California  is  the  only  state  in  the  Union 
he  has  missed  and  he  spent  eleven  months  in  Colombia,  South 
America)  have  made  of  him  a very  interesting  conversationalist. 

because — of  his  previous  experience  as  salesman,  usher.  Wall 
Street  clerk,  and  railroad  dispatcher  — 

We  give  you  (if  he  will  sit  still  long  enough  for  the  photog- 
rapher to  snap  him)  Jerry  Wolke. 


Lets  Get 


Millikink  No.  2 

• This  month’s  Millikink  is  a phonetic  cryptogram.  How  long 
does  it  take  you  to  decipher  this  message?  Please  forward  your 
solutions  to  Room  297,  with  any  comment  you  wish  to  make  on 
this  series  as  a whole.  We’d  be  very  grateful. 

“A  SCOTCHMAN’S  TELEGRAM” 

BRUISES  HURT  ERASED  AFFORD  ERECTED 
ANALYSIS  HURT  TOO  INFECTIOUS  DEAD 

Here’s  the  solution  to  last  month’s  Millikink  No.  1 which  was 
an  Alternate  Vertical  type  of  Route  Transposition  Cipher. 

THE  REAL  GOOD  WILL  ASSET  OF  ANY  COMPANY  IS 
THAT  PICTURE  OF  THE  COMPANY  WHICH  IS  CARRIED 
IN  THE  MINDS  OF  ITS  CUSTOMERS. 


(Continued  fiom  Page  2) 

Silent  David  Roberts  is  now  proudly  displaying  a new  pair  of 
second  lieutenant’s  silver  bars  on  the  well-padded  shoulders  of 
his  blue  jacket. 

» » c c 

Anthony  Jiminez  has  been  transferred  permanently  to  Music 
Rights  Department. 

Harry  Wightman  of  whom  a guest  once  said,  “He  looks  like 
Rudy  Vallee”,  is  now  in  the  Music  Library. 


Static 

IFe  aim  to  Please:  Quartermaster  McCarthy,  to  a shirt-seeking 
Guide:  What  size  do  you  want — too  large  or  too  small?  Wow! 

> > € < 

We  learned  that  after  only  two  years  of  employment  in  Radio 
City  Bill  Hoffman  managed  to  get  around  to  seeing  a show  at  the 
Music  Hall. 

» » « « 

And  then  there  was  the  Guide  taking  his  first  tour;  who  faced 
his  party  on  the  fourth  floor,  eyes  aglow,  knees  knocking,  and  was 
heard  to  gurgle:  (Breathe)  “Now  that  we  are  all  here  physically 
and  some  mentally  . . .”.  ’Sa  fact! ! 

> » C C 

D’jever  hear  of  “nomenollogy”?  Neither  have  I,  but  it  seems  to 
fit  this  case.  Mr.  Kuster  of  our  stock  room  received  a request  for 
supplies  addressed  “Miss  D.  Custa”.  Bet  it  was  the  Center  wit. 

» » € « 

Bob  Eldred  sends  us  this!  “I  escorted  Mrs.  Herbert  Hoover 
through  the  studios  the  other  day. — No,  not  the  ex-President’s 
wife,  but  a woman  from  Monkton,  New  Brunswick,  Canada”. 

» » c c 

“01  Sportin’  Life”  A1  Walker  bought  the  first  ticket  for  the 
Pages  and  Guides  Dance.  P.  S.  He  payed  cash! ! 

Oh!  by  the  way,  have  you  seen  the  white  citation  cords  the 
Radio  City  Music  Hall  Ushers  are  wearing  (’round  their  shoul- 
ders ) . Seems  to  me.  I’ve  seen  them  somewhere  before. 

» » € € 

And  this  one  kinda  got  me — The  doors  had  just  closed  on  the 
Eno  Crime  Clues  Show.  A little  lady  came  tearing  up  to  the  host- 
ess desk.  “Oh  dear!”,  she  gasped,  “I’m  late  for  my  Eno,  can  you 
suggest  anything  else?”  And  so  ’elp  me,  folks,  there  appeared 
before  our  startled  and  unbelieving  eyes,  a vision  of  Fred  Allen, 
passing  down  the  corridor.  Without  the  flick  of  an  eyelash  he 
droned,  “Wait  till  Wednesday  lady,  then  try  Sal  Hepatica!” 

» > C € 

With  which — we’ll  cut  the  switch — 

So  long  Static ! ! 


DON'T  MISS  IT! 

Everyone  Will  Be  There! 

RUDY  VALLEE 
WILL  PLAY! 

at  the 

RECEPTION  STAFF'S 

ANNUAL  DANCE 

FRIDAY,  MARCH  20,  1936  at  9:00  P.  M. 

at  the 

GREAT  NORTHERN  HOTEL 

GUEST  STARS  GALORE  FROM  RADIO  AND  STAGE 
Subscription  $1,50  per  person  Semi-Formal 


5 T R F F 


VOL.  2 


R 6 C 


No.  4 


Mr.  & Mrs.  Million 

■ Guide  Bob  Kennedy  switched  his 
regular  late  afternoon  tour  for  an  ear- 
lier one  so  he  would  be  able  to  keep  a 
date  Saturday  evening,  March  28.  hut 
as  luck  would  have  it,  he  was  neither 
able  to  keep  his  date  nor  receive  the 
benefit  of  his  early  schedule  for  fate 
intervened  and  selected  him  as  the 
guide  to  escort  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Millionth 
Tour  Guests  ( Mr.  and  Mrs.  I.  V.  Good- 
man of  Ardmore,  Pennsylvania)  who 
happened  to  be  in  New  York  celebrat- 
ing their  twenty-fifth  wedding  anni- 
versary. 

After  they  were  officially  greeted  and 
presented  the  key  to  Radio  City  by 
Graham  McNamee,  Bob  escorted  his 
guests  on  a partial  tour  of  the  NBC 
Studios  but  was  unable  to  cover  much 
ground  as  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Million  were  scheduled  to  visit  backstage 
at  the  Radio  City  Music  Hall. 

Having  seen  part  of  the  Music  Hall’s  current  stage  production 
from  a vantage  point  in  the  wings.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Million  were 
escorted  to  the  Taft  Hotel  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mills  and  Miss  Vir- 
ginia Blachly  of  Guest  Tours  where  they  were  entertained  at 
dinner.  Later  they  went  to  the  Rainbow  Grill  where  they  were 
royally  received  and  entertained  at  a banquet  planned  in  their 
honor.  The  lovely  Pickens  Sisters.  Raymond  Knight.  Graham 
McNamee.  Vox  Pop’s  Jerry  Belcher  and  Parks  Johnson,  and 
many  other  NBC  celebrities  were  present.  While  there,  a special 
broadcast  was  made  as  a tribute  to  the  lucky  ticket  holders.  The 
participants  were  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Goodman,  the  Pickens  Sisters, 
Raymond  Knight,  Ruby  Newman’s  Rainbow  Grill  orchestra.  Ted 
Lewis’  and  Benny  Goodman’s  bands  from  Chicago.  Gordon  H. 
Mills,  Parks  Johnson  and  Jerry  Belcher  with  Graham  McNamee 
as  master  of  ceremonies.  Following  this  a special  group  consisting 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Goodman.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mills,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mc- 
Namee, Don  Wilson  and  William  Lundell  continued  on  to  the 
French  Casino  where  the  festivities  in  the  most  exciting  day  in  the 
lives  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Million  were  brought  to  a temporary  close, 
to  be  resumed  on  the  morrow. 

Sunday  dawned  bright  and  clear  supplying  an  ideal  setting  for 
the  last  precious  hours  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  I.  V.  Goodman’s  stay  in 
New  York  as  the  honored  guests  of  NBC.  The  Rkview  prevailed 
on  Guide  John  Hancock  to  recount  the  Sunday  itinerary  of  the 
couple,  as  he  received  the  honor  of  making  their  last  day  in  New 
York  as  perfect  as  the  first.  His  account  follows: 

TIME 

10:00  A.M.  Met  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Goodman  at  the  Hotel  New 
Yorker  and  returned  to  NBC.  Gave  them  a complete  NBC  Tour, 
saw  several  rehearsals,  and  made  a phonograph  record  of  their 
voices.  Following  this  we  went  to  the  Radio  City  T<»iir  lounge. 
Lower  Concourse,  where  we  were  welcomed  by  the  party  in 
charge  and  placed  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Martin,  a very 
capable  and  interesting  young  man.  From  the  Observati<ni  Roof, 
we  were  escorted  to  the  Future  House  and  placed  in  the  hands 
of  Miss  Hood,  a charming  young  lady  who  did  much  to  make  our 
visit  of  interest.  From  the  Future  House  we  repaired  to  the  Mu- 


Vdcation  Stories 

■ How  good  a story  teller  are  you? 
After  seeing  how  those  vacation  stories, 
both  the  tall  and  truthful  variety,  have 
been  wasted  because  of  a limited  locker 
room  audience  we’ve  decided  to  find 
out.  e’re  inaugurating  a new  contest 
with  suitable  prizes  every  month  for 
the  best  vacation  “tall”  story  or  best 
descriptive  story  of  those  two  weeks  of 
paradise.  So  sharpen  up  your  pencils, 
wits,  and  imagination  and  bring  out  the 
old  thesaurus.  Address  your  story  to 
the  Review.  Room  297.  Story  limit  is 
4.S0  words. 

Contest  judges  will  be  Messrs. 
Wayne  L.  Randall.  Willan  C.  Raux, 
and  Frank  C.  Chizzini.  Contestants 
must  submit  typewritten  entries  not 
later  than  April  24. 

Engineers  Challenge 
Reception  Chess  Team 

• The  Review’s  announcement  last  month  of  the  progress  of 
Reception’s  Chess  Tournament  has  resulted  in  the  issuance  of  a 
challenge  by  the  Engineers’  Chess  Team. 

Guide  Gordon  Logue  rounded  up  the  four  semi-finalists  in  the 
tournament  and  as  manager  of  this  newly  created  Reception 
Chess  Team,  eagerly  accepted  the  challenge  and  made  contest 
arrangments  with  Mr.  E.  P.  Kampf  of  Engineering. 

Messrs.  A.  A.  Cooper.  E.  P.  Kampf,  J.  Rogos,  and  F.  A.  Wankel 
of  Engineering  are  playing  against  Bob  Eldred,  Ary  Moll,  Jack 
McGhie,  and  Bill  Garden  in  that  order.  Initial  possession  of  a cup 
to  be  contested  for  annually  is  the  goal  of  the  two  four-man  teams. 

The  match  has  stirred  up  a lot  of  excitement  in  Reception  and 
the  team  members  have  gone  to  the  front  line  trenches  with  fire 
in  their  eyes  and  the  will  to  do  or  die.  Whether  or  not  the  match 
will  have  any  mortal  results,  however,  only  time  will  tell. 


-seum  of  Science  and  Industry  where  we  were  greeted  and  made 
welcome  by  .Mr.  Dye  who  intrigued  us  for  an  hour  and  fifteen 
minutes  with  the  story  of  modern  art  and  science  and  its  place 
in  the  economical  and  social  world  of  today. 

1:30  P.M.  Press  Department,  NBC:  For  the  next  hour  and  a 
half.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Goodman  retold  in  detail  the  complete  story 
of  their  lives  from  a point  beginning  back  in  1909  when  he  gradu- 
ated from  school  until  the  moment  he  walked  into  our  arms  at 
NBC.  In  order  to  save  time  we  had  luncheon  served  in  the  Press 
Department  while  the  interview  was  being  written. 

3:00  P.  M.  Radio  City  Music  Hall:  From  the  reserved  seat  sec- 
tion of  the  Mezzanine,  we  saw  part  of  the  picture,  but  unfortu- 
nately. it  was  necessary  for  us  to  leave  before  we  had  witnessed 
the  complete  show  in  order  to  return  to  NBC  to  witness  a broad- 
cast. {Continued  on  Page  4) 


APRIL,  1936 


Mr.  AM)  Mrs.  Million  (the  I.  V.  Goodmans)  of 
Ardmore,  Pennsylvania  are  shown  above  having  the 
studio  construction  exhibit  in  the  air  conditioning 
plant  explained  to  them  by  Guide  Bob  Kennedy. 
Nice  picture  of  Bob's  bark,  isn't  it? 


K 


APRIL 


K ( C ( 


r 


RECEPTION  STAFF  REVIEW 

Official  organ  of  the  Reception  Staff  of  the  National 
Broadcasting  Company,  30  Rockefeller  Plaza,  New 
York  City.  Published  monthly  throughout  the  year. 

VOL.  II  APRIL,  1936  NO.  4 

Frank  C.  Lepore,  Editor 
Ary  R.  Moll,  Managing  Editor 
Walter  A.  Wiebel,  Circulation  Manager 

ASSOCIATES 

Walter  Clark  Frederic  M.  Kirklanl 

D.  Caldwell  Davis  Alwin  D.  Foster 

Bill  Garden  Don  Gardiner 

CONTRIBUTORS 

John  Hancock  Albert  Walker 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Million 
Express  their  Thanks 

ED.  NOTE:  Below  reproduced  in  full  is  a copy  of  the  letter  received 
by  Mr.  Gordon  H.  Mills  from  Mr.  and  Mrs.  1.  V.  Goodman,  our  "One 
Millionth  Tour  Guests.” 

2907  Rising  Sun  Road 
Ardmore,  Pennsylvania 

Mr.  Gordon  H.  Mills,  April  2,  1936 

Dear  Friend; 

You  would  think  that  by  this  time  the  wonder  of  being  the  Millionth 
Guest  to  visit  NBC  would  have  somewhat  abated,  but  to  the  contrary. 
I think  that  both  Mrs.  Goodman  and  myself  are  just  beginning  to  appre- 
ciate the  fullness  and  completeness  with  which  you  received  us  and 
made  us  one  of  your  wonderful  company  for  a season. 

We  have  been  greatly  surprised  and  gratified  upon  our  return  to 
note  how  many  of  the  host  of  friends  who  have  congratulated  us  upon 
our  good  fortune  have  either  been  a guest  on  the  NBC  tours  or  desire 
to  be.  The  expression  which  is  often  used  is  "Oh!  that  tour  is  well 
worth  taking.”  We  agree,  but  the  expression  used  is  not  half  strong 
enough  to  cover  the  way  we  feel  about  it. 

It  is  with  a feeling  of  absolute  futility  that  I will  try  to  express  my 
appreciation  for  all  that  RCA  and  NBC  have  done  for  us  in  our  stay 
at  New  York.  The  wonderful  radio,  the  magic  key  which  is  a delight 
and  envy  of  all  to  whom  we  show  it,  the  two  days’  entertainment  so 
abundantly  filled  with  experiences  of  the  nth  degree,  the  records  which 
arrived  safely  today;  and  above  all  Mrs.  Goodman  and  myself  wish  to 
thank  Mrs.  Mills  and  yourself  for  a day  which  will  stand  out  in  our 
memories  as  the  greatest  day  in  our  lives  and  we  feel  that  we  have 
been  privileged  to  experience  that  which  it  is  the  lot  of  but  few  to  enjoy. 

I will  consider  it  a great  favor  if  you  will  express  to  Mr.  Lundell, 
your  Guide  Staff,  your  Miss  Blachly  and  to  all  those  who  so  willingly 
and  courteously  helped  to  make  our  stay  so  pleasant,  our  deep  appre- 
ciation of  their  part  in  the  reception  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  "One  Millionth.” 

In  closing  I say  simply  thanks,  but  one  full  million  of  them  and  may 
the  NBC  tour  prosper  even  more  so  than  it  has  in  the  past. 

Sincerely  yours, 

I.  V.  GOODMAN 

Contest  Winners 

■ This  month,  PAGE  CLARENCE  McCOLLOUGH  (Anecdote) 
and  GUIDE  DON  GARDINER  (best  cartoon  idea)  win  the  Re- 
view’s prize  of  two  passes  each  to  the  Radio  City  Music  Hall 
where  "Mr.  Deeds  Goes  to  Town”  with  Gary  Cooper  and  Jean 
Arthur  will  play  starting  April  16th. 

Frank  Capra,  who  directed  such  outstanding  hits  as  “It  Hap- 
pened One  Night,”  “Broadway  Bill,”  and  “Lady  for  a Day”  has 
included  in  the  supporting  cast  a familiar  radio  actor,  ex-Town 
Hall-ite  Lionel  Stander. 


And  a Good  Time  was  Had  by  All 


Vallee  sang— we  listened;  VaUee's  band  played— we  danced.  A more 
perfect  evening  we  never  did  have.  Reception  s Annual  Dance  held  at 
the  Hotel  Great  Northern  on  Friday  evening,  March  20  came  to  a close 
in  the  wee  sma’  hours  bringing  to  an  end  a much  heralded  occasion 
which  was  successful  in  every  respect. 

Chatter 

■ GO  AHEAD  AND  SUE  ME  BUT  . . . the  biggest  thing  ever 
held  by  NBCites  (outside  of  the  time  that  UNCLE  AL  WALKER 
held  TWINKLETOES  MOCARSKI  on  his  lap)  was  the  dance 
at  the  Hotel  Great  Northern  on  Friday,  March  20th  . . . You 
really  had  to  be  there  to  appreciate — RAY  SULLIVAN  actually 
knockin’  ’em  cold  with  his  “County  Down”  . . . JACK  MILLS 
tripping  the  light  fantastic,  and  I mean  tripping  . . . MICKEY 
McFADDEN  constantly  seeking  his  sweet  little  cousin  and  usu- 
ally finding  her  in  the  clutches  of  RITTENHOUSE,  RYAN  or 
McGHIE  . . . BOB  ELDRED  sporting  a new  haircut  . . . BILL 
MEAD  staying  oh-so-close  to  his  girl  friend  all  night,  much  to 
the  disappointment  of  the  Wolves  of  Room  264  . . . People  stand- 
ing on  tip-toes  on  chairs  and  tables  in  order  to  see  JACKIE 
BRENNAN  do  his  stuff  . . . “SAWLTAN”  PEPPER  waiting  at 
the  bar  for  two  full  hours  before  anyone  offered  to  buy  . . . with 
BARRY  ELDRIDGE  finally  buying  . . . HENRY  WESTON  pock- 
eting a spoon  as  a souvenir  to  add  to  his  huge  collection  . . . JO-JO 
MARRIN  being  stared  at  by  three  nifties  and  not  noticing  them 
. . . BILL  GARDEN  wandering  about  the  lobby  as  a self-ap- 
pointed welcoming  committee  . . . TILDEN  BROWN  leaving  the 
bar  and  four  people  getting  into  the  space  he  vacated  . . . ED 
HAYES  blushing  violently  wheij  a certain  blonde  asked  him  for 
a dance  ...  A streak  of  light  rushing  around  hither  and  thither 
and  later  being  identified  as  TOMMY  TART  ...  A certain  editor 
scooping  the  boys  with  a special  edition  of  72  point  type  ...  in 
other  words,  some  girl  . . . Everyone  being  unanimous  in  their 
opinion  that  the  dance  was  a real  big  league  affair,  which  in  big 
league  language  means  ...  no  RUMS,  all  HITS,  no  ERRORS  . . . 

We'  re  Grateful  — to  Say  the  Least 

® It  was  the  hit  of  the  season  and  folks  are  still  talking  about 
the  Annual  Reception  Dance.  However,  many  of  us  wonder  what 
the  reaction  would  have  been  had  not  Rudy  Vallee  and  our  many 
other  guest  stars  graciously  supported  our  affair  with  their  time 
and  talent. 

We  are  grateful,  Mr.  Vallee,  for  your  thoughtfulness  and  to 
your  Connecticut  Yankees  for  their  splendid  cooperation.  We  are 
likewise  indebted  to  Frank  Fay  (whom  we  hope  will  make  a huge 
success  of  his  new  show),  Manny  Klein,  Senator  Fishface,  Lewis 
Julian,  Lucille  Manners,  Howard  Petrie,  Tom  Powers,  Lanny 
Ross,  the  Songsmiths  Quartet,  the  Twin  City  Foursome,  Alice 
Wood,  Ray  Sullivan  and  Jack  Brennan.  To  Bill  Haussler  of 
Press  who  took  pictures  for  us  on  his  night  off,  many  thanks. 
We’re  looking  forward  to  next  year’s  dance  already. 


1936 


News  Briefs 

B Newly  elected  NBC  Stamp  Club  officers 
are:  Announcer  Nelson  Case,  president; 
Press’s  Walter  E.  Koons,  vice  president; 
Press’s  Frederic  Kirkland,  secretary; 
Mail’s  George  Nelson,  treasurer;  and 
Auditing’s  Frank  Johnson,  stamp  ex- 
change. These  men  will  guide  the  destiny 
of  the  present  membership  of  40  NBCites 
which  includes  Stamp  Enthusiast  NBC 
President  Lenox  R.  Lohr,  Engineering’s 
George  Milne,  Traffic’s  Frank  Reed  and 
many  others.  Interesting  activities  are 
planned  for  the  club’s  future.  If  you’re  a 
philatelist,  call  Secretary  Kirkland  (495) 
for  more  information  and  membership 
blanks. 

B Mr.  Tart  announces  that  soon  the  ninth 
floor  will  have  permanent  guide  posts  to 
prevent  confusion  on  “breaks”  when  the 
studio  audience  charges  the  elevators  and 
an  oncoming  guide  party  tries  to  go  up- 
stairs to  Air  Conditioning.  This  new  sys- 
tem will  prove  more  effective  than  the  old 
method  of  separating  program  from  tour 
guests. 

B Mezzanine  Lt.  Bud  Faillace  has  not 
fully  recovered  from  the  paternal  urge  in- 
spired by  his  experience  in  personally 
conducting  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dionne  of  Quin- 
tuplet fame  through  the  NBC  Studios  on 
special  tour  not  long  ago. 

B NBC  Chicago’s  Sidney  N.  Strotz.  Pro- 
gram and  Artists  Service  Manager,  offers 
a free  course  in  radio  announcing  to  Re- 
ception members  there,  with  the  possi- 
bility of  future  promotion  to  the  regular 
staff  as  the  reward.  It  looks  like  the  begin- 
ning of  boom  times  for  aspiring  Crosses, 
Petries,  Havrillas.  Grauers.  and  Hickes. 
NBC  New  f ork’s  Pat  Kelly  started  some- 
thing when  his  School  for  Announcers 
turned  out  four  full-fledged  and  two  junior 
announcers  to  set  a precedent  which  has 
insured  a steady  supply  of  capable  young 
men  to  the  networks  to  carry  off  the  an- 
nouncing duties  on  programs. 

B February,  1935.  RECEPTION  STAFF 
REVIEW’S  front  page.  Headline:  “Bigger 
Business  for  1935  states  Guest  Tours  Head. 
Gordon  H.  Mills.”  And  so  it  was.  for  1935 
ended  with  a total  paid  traffic  of  470.068 
paid  guests — an  8%  gain  over  1934.  This 
was  made  possible  by  continued  promo- 
tional activity  resulting  in  a 68%  gain  in 
directed*  traffic  which  is  today  42%  of  our 
total  traffic. 

B Guides  Bill  Garden,  D.  Caldwell  Davis, 
and  Stanley  Heeb  are  the  three  recent 
winners  of  Guest  Tours’  Gordon  H.  Mills’ 
contest  to  select  weekly  the  guide  averag- 
ing the  best  recorded  interviews  with  tour 
guests.  To  the  victors  will  go  the  just  re- 
wards — dinner  and  lecture  as  personal 
guests  of  Mr.  Mills. 

B Guides  will  now  have  set  hours  off  each 
week  with  the  inauguration  of  the  new 


R ( C ( 


General  Service 


WALTER  G.  PRESTON,  Jb 


B Our  new  department  head,  Walter  G. 
Preston,  Jr.,  in  charge  of  the  General  Ser- 
vice Department  established  by  Mr.  Lohr 
on  March  30,  was  asked  if  he  had  a mes- 
sage for  the  Reception  Staff,  and  whether 
there  was  any  information  to  give  out  re- 
garding the  operations  of  the  unit. 

Mr.  Preston  stated  he  was  much  pleased 
with  the  fine  cooperation  received  from  the 
department  staff.  His  first  official  order  was 
to  have  each  of  the  units  within  the  depart- 
ment report  directly  to  him,  believing  this 
will  make  for  the  highest  degree  of  work- 
ing harmony  among  the  sections. 

Mr.  Preston,  who  came  to  the  National 
Broadcasting  Company  in  January  1935 
was  formerly  Assistant  to  the  President  of 
the  University  of  Chicago  and  has  served 
in  executive  capacities  with  two  large  life 
insurance  companies. 

Mr.  Preston  stressed  the  fact  that  the 
Reception  Staff  has  an  important  responsi- 
bility in  making  friends  for  the  National 
Broadcasting  Company  and  stated  that  he 
hopes  the  staff  will  continue  to  keep  this  in 
mind  in  their  relations  with  the  public. 


seniority  system  which  assigns  each  guide 
a set  hour  corresponding  to  the  length  of 
time  he  has  been  employed  by  NBC.  For 
example,  the  guide  employed  longest  but 
not  on  school  schedule  is  assigned  the  10 
to  5 shift,  etc. 

B Guide  Joe  Cook  elicited  the  following 
praise  from  a lady  tour  guest  residing  in 
Shanghai,  China  who  has  crossed  the  Pa- 
cific 22  times,  the  Atlantic  18,  and  has 
been  around  the  world  5:  “I  cannot  re- 
member when  I have  heard  a clearer  ex- 
position of  radio’s  intricacies  than  I have 
heard  here  this  afternoon.” 


Personals 

Vacation:  JIM  BOR.ST  is  still  riding 
the  high  seas  aboard  the  Grace  liner, 
“Santa  Lucia”  visiting  South  American 
ports. 

FERDINAND  AUDO  goes  to  Studio 
Service  as  an  assistant  to  the  Night  Super- 
visor on  the  12  M. — 9 A.M.  shift. 

niness:  Guide  ALWYN  FOSTER  was 
stricken  with  an  attack  of  appendicitis  and 
had  to  be  rushed  to  the  Bay  Ridge  Hos- 
pital Thursday,  March  26,  where  an  ap- 
pendectomy was  performed  Friday  morn- 
ing. The  operation  was  successful  and  he 
is  reported  doing  well. 

Birth:  BILL  COLLINS  became  the 
father  of  a baby  girl,  Louise  by  name  and 
iy2  Jbs.  by  weight.  The  event  happened 
Tuesday,  the  17th.  Mother  and  child  do- 
ing well.  So  is  Bill. 

Beauty:  From  3000  beautiful  girls  who 
applied  for  positions  as  fashion  models 
with  a local  department  store,  one  of  the 
three  chosen  was  Miss  Elizabeth  Daly, 
the  charming  better-half  of  Day  Page 
“JERRY”  DALY. 

Retraction:  Last  month  we  announced 
ANTHONY  JIMINEZ  as  permanently 
transferred  to  Music  Rights  Department. 
We  acknowledge  this  error  because  the 
promotion  is  only  temporary  at  present, 
but  stands  a good  chance  of  becoming  per- 
manent. 

Change:  “MONTY”  MILLER  has 

turned  in  his  blue  uniform  to  take  a job 
as  salesman  for  WBAL,  NBC  outlet  in 
Baltimore,  Md. 

Stricken:  A new  pair  of  shoes  sent 
GUIDE  CARL  CANNON  to  Bellevue 
Hospital’s  ward  L-6.  It  seems  that  the  dye 
of  his  black  socks  have  poisoned  his  feet 
which  were  bruised  in  the  process  of 
breaking  in  new  shoes. 

Well  Again:  GEORGE  MALCOLM  is 
back  with  us  after  a four  weeks’  illness 
during  which  he  wrestled  successfully 
with  pleurisy,  sinus  trouble  and  bronchi- 
tis. We  happily  report  he  is  much  better. 

We  Wonder 

— how  many  other  persons  besides  the 
many  dozens  we’ve  heard  from  already 
also  think  that  the  NBC  Annual  Dance, 
sponsored  by  the  Reception  Staff,  should 
be  made  a semi-annual  affair  and  become 
a social  medium  for  acquainting  NBCites 
with  each  other. 

— if  those  leaving  tickets  at  the  Main 
Hall  Information  Desk  for  guests  would 
write  legibly  so  that  our  Main  Hall  men 
can  be  spared  the  additional  task  of  hav- 
ing to  decipher  scribbles. 


“WANTED — A roommate  to  share  an  at- 
tractive apartment  in  Greenwich  Village. 
Low  rental.  Why  live  in  a furnished  room? 
Call  Guide  Carl  Cannon,  Ext.  366.” 


APRIL 


(k  ( C ( 


s Get 
uainted 

ht  to  know  Vin- 
because  of  many 

...  he  shows 
ise  as  a musician, 
as  a youngster 
Tucker’s  Chil- 
dren’s Hour.  His  interest  in  music  was  stimulated  by  May  Singhi 
Breen’s  classes  in  which  he  was  a leader.  He  has  had  spots  alone 
and  with  others  on  the  Morning  Parade,  Steeplechase,  and  the 
Weekend  Revue. 

because  ...  he  has  his  own  network  program.  He  calls  it  the 
New  Yorkers;  five  boys  and  a girl  who  present  swing  tunes  in  a 
distinctive  manner. 

because  ...  he  stands  high  in  point  of  company  seniority.  He 
has  been  with  us  since  February  1931,  a matter  of  five  years. 

because  ...  he  owns  one  of  nature’s  own  permanents  ( for  which 
remark  we  hope  he  won’t  lop  off  our  heads). 

because  . . . there  are  few  visitors  to  the  third  studio  floor  who 
have  not  benefited  by  his  courtesy  and  efficiency.  His  inexhaust- 
ible knowledge  of  NBC  and  its  personnel  stands  him  in  good  stead. 

because  ...  he  can  play  a different  instrument  each  day  and 
never  have  to  borrow  one.  He  owns  a half  dozen  guitars  now. 

because  ...  he  is  a nice  person  to  know. 

We  give  you  Vinnie  Ragusa,  to  whom  we  hope  you  will  he 
listening. 

A Major  Misunderstanding 

CLARENCE  MrCUI.LOUGIl 
Winner  oj  Best  Anecdote  of  Month  Contest 
• While  lining  up  the  guests  for  Chase  and  Sanborn’s  program 
one  Sunday  night,  a middle  aged  woman  approached  me  and 
asked.  “Where’s  Major  Bowes?”  1 promptly  replied,  “At  the  end 
of  this  line,  please.”  About  five  minutes  had  passed  when  the 
same  lady  rushed  up  to  me  and  said,  “Young  man,  you  lied  to 
me.  I’ve  been  looking  for  Major  Bowes  at  the  end  of  this  line  the 
past  five  minutes  and  he  isn’t  back  there  anywhere.” 

Distinguished  Tour  Guests 
for  March 

1.  MRS.  PERCY  H.  CLARK,  mother-in-law,  and  son  DAVID 
W.,  brother-in-law,  of  Mr.  Nelson  Rockefeller. 

2.  LIEUTENANT  GOVERNOR  WALTER  F.  WOODUL  of 
the  State  of  Texas,  who  is  also  Chairman  of  the  Texas  Cen- 
tennial Exhibition. 

3.  MRS.  H.  CORBETT,  wife  of  Lieutenant  Governor  Corbett  of 
the  State  of  Oregon. 

4.  CONGRESSMAN  F.  L.  CRAWFORD  of  the  State  of 
Michigan. 

5.  MRS.  H.  EDWARD  MANVILLE,  wife  of  Mr.  H.  Edward 
Manville,  Sr.,  co-founder  of  the  Johns-Manville  Corporation,  ac- 
companied by  Lady  Newnes,  and  Lord  and  Lady  Bridgeport  of 
England,  were  guests  of  “Cheerio.’’ 

6.  MRS.  JAMES  J.  WALKER,  wife  of  former  Mayor  James  J. 
Walker  of  New  York  City. 

7.  MRS.  NED  McLEAN,  owner  of  the  fabulously  valuable 
Hope  Diamond. 

8.  MR.  and  MRS.  DIONNE,  father  and  mother  of  the  Dionne 
Quintuplets. 


Static 

As  I sit  down  to  dash  off  this  sparkling  bit  of  chatter,  I have 
to  keep  putting  the  pencil  down  to  run  off  for  another  aspirin! 
But,  oh,  it  was  worth  it!!  Whatta  dance!!!  Was  ever  an  affair 
so  enjoyable?  Was  ever  a crowd  more  congenial  and  convivial? 
No — No — A Thousand  Times  No!  “Vas  you  dere,  Sharlie?” 

From  my  position  under  table  No.  3,  several  things  struck  my 
eye,  besides  DON  MERCER’S  foot. 

There  was  old  “G  MAN”  BRENNAN,  doing  swell  imitations 
of  some  of  the  better  known  network  and  screen  stars. 

BILL  MEAD  quaffed  pitchers  of  suds  for  part  of  the  night, 
having  foresworn  the  harder  beverages  during  Lent.  However,  we 
later  came  across  him  at  the  bar  downing  a brandy  or  two. 
“Poshitively  medishinal,”  explained  Bill! 

The  title  “Mr.”  was  taboo.  It  was  hello — John — Ed — George — 
and  Popacropolis ! 

Some  of  our  silver  tongued  announcers  were  handing  out 
smoother  lines  than  they’ve  ever  sent  over  the  networks. 

TOM  TART  and  RAY  SULLIVAN  were  busier  than  a pair  of 
one-armed  paper  hangers,  running  around  seeing  that  everyone 
was  happy.  We  stumbled  over  them  in  so  many  places  we  thought 
we  were  seeing  double. 

The  hit  tune  of  the  evening  was  a bit  of  a ditty  entitled  “All 
right — All  right”! ! Rudy  played  it  six  or  seven  times,  and  then 
LABAN  BOND  was  heard  to  remark — “If  he  plays  that  again. 
I’m  ‘gong’  home! ! !” 

AL  W'ALKER,  erstwhile  custodian  of  the  portal,  seemed  to  be 
pulling  a Garbo  in  those  dark  colored  glasses.  We  later  learned 
that  he  had  a pair  of  badly  burned  eyes,  caused  by  an  overdose 
of  carbon  sun  ray  lamp.  But  that  didn’t  keep  him  from  noticing 
all  the  charming  members  of  the  fairer  sex,  who  passed  in  and 
out  all  night  long. 

— And  did  you  hear  Rudy  SWING? 

The  moral  of  all  this  seems  to  be — “Don’t  miss  the  next  Recep- 
tion Staff  Dance.”  Your  correspondent  was  dusting  off  the  moon 
up  there.  Whatta  dance! ! ! ! ! 


Mr.  & Mrs.  Million 

{Continued  from  Page  1) 

5:00  P.M.  Broadcast  “Roses  and  Drums,”  NBC:  It  so  happens 
that  this  was  one  of  their  favorite  broadcasts,  and  also  that  this 
particular  one  was  the  last  of  the  series  and  surprising  as  it  might 
seem  the  stars  of  the  broadcast  were  married  over  the  air  on  the 
same  day  that  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Goodman  were  celebrating  their 
twenty-fifth  wedding  anniversary. 

5:30  P.M.  From  NBC  to  Hotel  New  Yorker:  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Goodman  checked  »>ut  of  their  room,  arranged  their  affairs  and 
prepared  themselves  for  dinner. 

6:00  P.M.  Dinner  in  the  Terrace  Garden,  Hotel  New  Yorker. 
For  entertainment  during  dinner  Boh  Crosby  and  his  hand 
played. 

7:45  P.M.  Arrival  at  NBC  where  we  were  ushered  into  the 
presence  of  Evening  General  Manager  John  dejara  Almonte  who 
welcomed  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Goodman  to  our  Studios. 

8:00  P.M.  Reserved  Seats,  First  Row  Balcony  at  the  Chase  and 
Sanborn  broadcast  starring  Major  Bowes. 

9:00  P.M.  Returned  to  the  Hotel  New  Yorker  to  pick  up  bag- 
gage, and  walked  to  the  Pennsylvania  Station,  where  they  hoarded 
the  10:00  P.M.  Express  for  Philadelphia. 


Let 

Acq 

You  ougl 
nie  Ragusa 
things. 

because 
much  prom 
He  started 
with  Miss 


VOL.  i 


NBC  TRANSMITTEB 

MAY.  U)5  6 


NO.  5 


NBC  TENTH  ANNIVERSARY  CELEBRATION 
TO  EXTEND  OVER  A PERIOD  OF  SIX  MONTHS 


Paisley  Prepares 
Special  Arkansas 
Centennial  Broadcast 

■ June  15,  1936  marks  the  opening  of  the 
Arkansas  Centennial  Exposition,  com- 
memorating the  hundredth  anniversary  of 
the  admission  of  Arkansas  into  the  Union. 
In  honor  of  the  event,  William  M.  Paisley, 
prolific  song  writer  of  NBC’s  Music  De- 
partment, and  native  son  of  Arkansas,  has 
conceived  and  prepared  a special  pro- 
gram to  be  broadcast  on  Friday,  May 
29th,  from  11:25  to  12:00  o’clock  mid- 
night, over  the  Blue  network. 

The  Arkansas  program  will  be  a gala 
affair  originating  from  various  cities  and 
featuring  many  celebrated  Arkansans,  in- 
cluding Ross  Graham,  Pat  Binford,  Dick 
Powell,  Bob  Burns  and  Lum  and  Abner. 
The  first  fifteen  minutes  of  the  broadcast 
will  originate  in  Hot  Springs,  Arkansas 
(KTHS)  where  Harvey  C.  Couch,  indus- 
trial leader,  and  chairman  of  the  Arkansas 
Centennial  Commission,  will  speak.  From 
Hot  Springs  the  radio  audience  will  be 
taken  to  the  Biltmore  Hotel  in  New  York 
where  the  Arkansas  Society  of  New  York 
City  will  be  celebrating  to  Russ  Morgan’s 
music.  Pat  Binford  will  be  heard  as  mas- 
ter of  ceremonies  and  Ross  Graham,  mem- 
ber of  the  Cities  Service  quartet,  will  sing 
Bill  Paisley’s  newest  hit,  “I  Sing”. 

( Continued  on  Page  3 ) 

Baseball  in  the  Air 

• NBC’s  baseball  team  won  the  first  offi- 
cial game  of  the  season  with  a win  over 
Skouras  at  Sterling  Oval,  164th  Street  and 
Teller  Ave.,  Bronx,  N.  Y.  on  May  12,  and 
so  officially  inaugurated  the  1936  race  for 
the  championship  of  the  Motion  Picture 
Baseball  League.  If  NBC  wins  again  this 
year,  it  will  mean  three  consecutive  sea- 
sons as  the  pennant  winners  and  the  right 
to  permanent  possession  of  the  cup. 

Last  season's  veterans  who  have  turned 
out  for  the  1936  team  are:  Peter  Bonardi, 
IB;  Frank  Crowley,  2B;  Adam  Gayeck, 
SS;  Nord  Schonfeld,  3B;  Don  Cain, 
Pitcher;  Jack  McCarthy,  Catcher;  Jim 
Cody,  outfield;  George  Hayes,  outfield; 
Jim  Shellman,  outfield,  and  Jack  Wahl- 
strom,  Manager  and  outfielder.  The  above 
constitutes  the  first  team  but  according  to 
Manager  Wahlstrom  selections  are  by  no 
means  permanent  and  he  urges  all  who 
would  care  to  compete  for  positions  to 
see  him  for  more  information.  Rookies 
( Continued  on  Page  3,  Col.  3 ) 


A DECADE  OF  PROGRESS 


NBC  dt  Tipex 

H The  National  Broadcasting  Company 
was  represented  in  the  Third  Interna- 
tional Philatelic  Exhibition  which  at- 
tracted stamp  collectors  from  all  over  the 
world  to  Grand  Central  Palace  during 
the  week  of  May  6.  This,  the  largest  stamp 
exhibit  ever  opened  to  the  public,  dis- 
played rare  stamps,  both  United  States 
and  foreign,  totaling  in  value  well  over 
$25,000,000.  Fifteen  foreign  governments 
contributed  official  collections,  and  the 
United  States  Post  Office  Department  set 
up  a printing  press  to  print  and  sell  spe- 
cial stamps  commemorating  the  event. 

In  the  midst  of  the  United  States  Post 
Office  display  was  exhibited  NBC’s  two 
“stratospbere”  transmitters  and  a cover 
addressed  to  General  Charles  Dawes 
which  was  carried  on  both  the  flight  that 
crashed  and  the  last  successful  one.  This 
display  attracted  huge  crowds,  and  the 
NBC  Stamp  Club’s  exhibit  in  Frame  2580 
received  many  enthusiastic  comments. 
The  focal  point  of  this  display  was  the 
famous  black  English  one  penny  stamp 
of  1840,  the  first  stamp  ever  issued,  which 
Theodore  Steinway,  one  of  America’s 
noted  philatelists  presented  to  our  Club 
several  weeks  ago.  The  Club  also  exhib- 
ited a case  of  stamps  on  the  Mezzanine  of 
our  studio  during  the  Exhibition. 

As  a reminder  to  NBC  collectors,  the 
NBC  Stamp  Club  holds  semi-monthly 
meetings  the  first  and  third  Mondays  in 
the  President’s  board  room  on  the  sixth 
office  floor  at  5:15  P.M.  For  further  infor- 
mation concerning  Club  activities  call 
George  M.  Nelson  (417),  Frank  John- 
son (350)  or  Walter  Koons  (573). 


OldT  imers  List  Their 
Most  Interesting 
Recollections 

Nineteen  hundred  and  thirty-six 
marks  the  Tenth  Anniversary  of  the 
National  Broadcasting  Company’s  forma- 
tion. A few  days  ago.  May  18th,  a six 
months’  celebration  was  inaugurated  in 
commemoration  of  that  birth.  During  the 
decade  that  has  passed,  NBC  has  wit- 
nessed progress  unforeseen  by  its  organ- 
izers. Through  the  periods  of  childhood 
and  youth  the  company  has  arrived  fin- 
ally to  blossom  forth  into  full  manhood. 
During  this  period  it  has  experienced 
“growing  pains”  of  many  kinds.  Just  as 
a boy  often  outgrows  his  breeches  so  has 
NBC  several  times  outgrown  its  quarters. 
Many  of  the  incidents  attending  and  pre- 
ceding the  birth  of  NBC  are  indelibly  writ- 
ten in  the  memories  of  our  “old  timers”. 

Graham  McNamee  reminisces  con- 
cerning old  WEAF’S  air  conditioning  sys- 
tem:— “We  were  broadcasting  on  lower 
Broadway  then  from  two  small  studios 
with  a tiny  six  by  three  monitoring  booth 
sandwiched  in  between.  It  was  hot  as 
blazes  in  that  coop  during  the  summer  so 
Phil  Carlin  and  I conditioned  our  own 
air.  We  had  an  electric  fan  blowing  on 
a cake  of  ice  all  the  time.  I even  used  this 
as  an  ice  box.  They  gave  me  a fish  once 
( Continued  on  Page  4,  Col.  1 ) 


OPEN  INVITATION 

At  some  time  or  other  all  of  us  have 
run  across  a choice  bit  of  news,  a per- 
sonal item,  or  some  morsel  of  informa- 
tion of  general  interest.  If  ten  people 
daily  would  forward  one  contribution 
each  to  the  NBC  TRANSMITTER’S 
office  ( Room  297 ) by  mail  or  phone 
(Ext.  2201  between  11  a.m.  and  5 p.m., 
the  editors  could  probably  postpone 
that  nervous  breakdown  for  another 
three  months. 

So,  appoint  yourself  a staff  corres- 
pondent and  let’s  see  how  capable  a 
gleaner  you  are.  Anyone  and  everyone 
in  all  departments,  divisions,  and  sta- 
tions is  invited  to  contribute  notes 
about  PEOPLE  and  THINGS  in  and 
around  NBC. 


I 


2 


NBC  TRANSMITTER 


NBC  TRANSMITTER 


VoL.  2 MAY,  1936 No.  5 

Frank  C.  Lepore,  Editor 
Ary  R.  Moll,  Assistant  Editor 
Walter  A.  Wiebel,  C.irculation  Manager 

ASSOCIATES 

D.  Caldwell  Davis  Alwin  D.  Foster 

Walter  Clark  Bill  Garden 

Don  Gardiner  Francis  J.  Fradella 

CONTRIBUTORS 

Alden  Edkins  Grace  Sniffin 

Ei’cene  Haley  Gordon  Locue 


NEW  COMERS 

• Last  week  4 new  men  were  added  to  the  Guest  Relations 
Division  bringing  the  total  up  to  102.  They  are: 

Derek  Mortlock — whose  birthplace  is  Cambridge,  England 
and  who  arrived  in  America  only  four  weeks  ago.  He  comes  to 
us  from  Kingston,  Jamaica  in  the  West  Indies  and  speaks  four 
languages  fluently:  French,  English,  Spanish  and  German.  He 
has  traveled  in  England,  France,  Belgium,  Switzerland,  Ger- 
many, Italy,  and  the  West  Indies,  and  has  been  in  the  United 
States  before.  He  was  educated  in  Switzerland  and  England.  His 
chief  interest  is  operatic  music.  He  plays  the  piano  and  viola, 
and  thinks  New  York  the  most  wonderful  city  in  the  world. 

George  Watkins — of  Oklahoma  was  born  in  the  Kiamiachi 
Mountains  in  the  southeastern  part  of  the  state  where  his  father 
now  is  hunting  buried  Aztec  gold  which  was  hidden  from  the 
Spanish  invaders  several  centuries  ago.  When  only  seventeen 
George  won  a scholarship  at  the  Homer  Conservatory  of  Music 
in  Kansas  City  and  sang  over  station  WDAF  for  two  years.  At 
twenty  he  appeared  in  a minor  role  in  the  late  Will  Rogers’ 
picture,  “Life  Begins  at  Forty”.  At  twenty-one  he  played 
Oklahoma  City,  Oklahoma  and  Memphis,  Tennessee  as  male 
vocalist  with  Paul  Sabin’s  band.  George’s  ambition  is  to  become 
a singer. 

Peter  Perrine — of  Washington,  D.  C.,  won  a scholarship  to 
the  National  Cathedral  Choir  in  Washington  (1926-’27).  He  has 
attended  eighteen  schools  in  twelve  years;  was  born  in  Berry- 
ville.  Virginia;  and  has  played  the  piano  by  ear  since  he  was 
three  years  of  age.  His  ambition  is  to  compose  and  sing. 

Eugene  Haley  is  a native  New  Yorker.  He  attended  Syracuse 
University  where  he  was  a member  of  the  Delta  Tau  Delta  Fra- 
ternity; assstant  manager  of  the  Soccer  team;  a member  of 
Corpse  and  Coffin,  a Junior  Honorary  Society;  and  delegate  to 
the  Interfraternity  Council.  He  also  attended  Manhattan  College 
for  one  year,  and  is  now  finishing  his  college  work  at  the  Fordham 
Downtown  College  in  the  Woolworth  Building. 

Gene  has  hopes  of  writing  the  great  American  novel.  At  present 
he  spends  his  spare  time  turning  out  reams  of  what  he  terms 
humorous  poetry  and  light  drama,  plunking  his  mandolin,  or 
pulling  fish  of  prodigious  size  out  of  the  shimmering  lakes  of 
Westchester  County. 


NBC  GROUP  ACTIVITY  SERIES 


The  Dramatic  Class 


The  NBC  Dramatic  Class  under  the  guidance  of  Production  Direc- 
tor Edwin  R.  W olfe  is  progressing  rapidly.  The  young  thespians  have 
graduated  from  the  fundamentals  of  acting,  pantomime  and  improvised 
scenes  to  Shakespearian  soliloquies  and  short  scenes  from  popular 
plays.  The  class  meets  every  Monday  morning  at  eleven  o'clock  in 
Studio  3C  and  all  those  interested  are  invited  to  attend. 


CHATTER 

■ GO  AHEAD  AND  SUE  ME  BUT . . . here’s  some  interesting 
stuff  I’ve  picked  up  while  ramblin’  through  the  NBC  corridors  . . . 
That  the  rainy  weather  of  late  has  managed  to  produce  a bumper 
crop  of  mustaches  in  Gestrylayshuns,  which  once  again  proves 
the  proverb,  “It’s  an  ill  wind  etc.,  etc.”  . . . Speaking  of  the  wind, 
it  wouldn’t  take  much  of  one  to  blow  those  lip  decorations  right 
out  into  Sixth  Ave. . . . 

Courtney  Snell  of  Engineering  has  often  wanted  his  picture 
to  appear  in  a magazine.  He  got  his  wish  recently  when  pictures 
were  taken  of  the  Vox  Pop  broadcast  on  which  he  worked,  but 
imagine  his  surprise  when  of  all  the  pictures  taken,  they  decided 
to  print  the  one  that  merely  showed  the  back  of  his  head. . . . 

Bob  (Press)  Cottingham  has  been  spending  too  much  time  at 
the  Roosevelt  Hospital  Nurses’  Home. . .heart  trouble  no  doubt 
. . . Has  anyone  ever  seen  Miss  Merrill  of  the  Evexoff  when  she 
was  not  in  a hurry?  . . . What  guide  recently  took  home  a mess  of 
those  “tour  folders”  for  family  distribution?  . . . 

And  it’s  about  time  that  we  asked  Otto  Brandt  who  that  charm- 
ing eyefull  is  that  has  waited  for  him  on  several  occasions  at  the 
Main  Hall  desk. . . . Alan  Kent  challenges  anyone  his  weight  or 
under  to  a boxing  match,  his  opponent  to  set  the  time,  the  place 
and  on  the  floor  after  Alan  hits  him.  . . . 

Tony  Cusamano  of  Telegraph  would  like  to  sell  someone  a 
car. . . . You  just  name  a car  and  Tony  will  sell  it  to  you. . . . Two 
reasons  why  we  like  paydays  are,  first  to  get  paid  and  second, 
to  talk  to  Mary  Lou  Irvine. . . . And  if  you  want  to  hear  a sweet 
voice  over  the  phone,  just  call  Miss  Boudreau  in  First  Aid  (now 
on  vacation — back  June  7). . . . Paul  Rittenhouse  returned  from 
his  vacation  looking  browner  than  usual. . . . And  here  are  a few 
similes  ...  to  wit ...  as  conscientious  as  Ed  Demming  ...  as 
proud  as  Harry  Weir  ...  as  polite  as  Don  Cain  ...  as  talkative  as 
Manny  Mannion  ...  as  nimble-witted  as  "Hercules"  Hilly,  pillar 
of  the  ninth  floor. . . . 

Uppan  Adam  Gayeck  has  decided  to  give  away  autographed 
photos  of  himself,  duplicates  of  the  one  hanging  in  the  locker 
room. . . . Our  sustaining  policy  reader  seems  lost  these  days 
without  his  “lovely  lady’'’!  ...“Oh.  Juliet.  Juliet!  Wherefore  art 
thou,  Juliet?”  . . . Ming  Toy  Meehan  is  starting  to  grow  out  of 
his  uniform  in  the  funniest  places  . . . just  as  George  Murray 
(Continuity  Acceptance)  did  when  he  was  a page  . . . and  now  I 
must  stop  with  a thought  for  the  dazed  . . . there’s  many  a man 
thinks  he’s  fired  with  ambition  when  really  he’s  FIRED  for 
the  lack  of  it. 


MAY,  1936 


3 


Spot  Announcements 

TROUPER:  Don  Meissner  dropped  us  a 
card  from  Major  Bowes  Unit  No.  5 in  the 
mid  west  to  say  he  is  being  transferred  to 
a special  circus  group  for  the  summer 
months.  Meissner,  who  resigned  as  NBC 
guide  to  take  his  place  with  the  amateur 
troupe,  won  a place  on  the  Chase  and  San- 
born Amateur  hours  several  months  ago. 
He  reports  that  he  is  doing  well  and  hav- 
ing lots  of  fun.  He  sends  his  best  to  all 
who  remember  him. 

PROGRESS:  NBC  has  applied  to  the  FCC 
for  an  increase  in  power  for  WJZ  from 
50,000  to  500,000  watts  as  well  as  per- 
mission to  erect  a new  antenna  in  the  form 
of  a slender  steel  tower  640  feet  high, 
which  will  reduce  fading  and  improve 
reception  in  the  metropolitan  area.  An- 
other station  has  been  added  to  the  net- 
work chain,  WNAC,  Boston’s  oldest  sta- 
tion, bringing  NBC’s  total  up  to  ninety- 
seven  as  of  May  15. 

STAYS:  Dr.  Max  Jordan,  NBC’s  Continen- 
tal European  Representative,  will  remain 
in  New  York  until  the  middle  of  June. 
FIRST  PASSENGERS:  Program  Vice  Presi- 
dent John  F.  Royal  is  in  England  and, 
accompanied  by  Fred  Bate,  NBC’s  British 
Representative,  will  return  on  the  maiden 
voyage  of  the  new  super-liner.  Queen 
Mary,  arriving  in  New  York  on  June  1. 
NBC  will  broadcast  twice  daily  on  the 
voyage  across. 

AN  EXPERIENCE:  NBC  G uide  Herb 
Gross’s  knowledge  of  German  stood  him 
in  good  stead  when  he  was  called  upon 
to  escort  sixteen  officers  of  the  zeppelin, 
Hindenburg,  on  special  tour  of  Radio  City. 
Only  four  understood  English  so  German 
was  spoken  throughout  the  2Y2  hour  tour. 
In  the  group  was  Dr.  Hugo  Eckener’s  son. 
Knute,  also  a ship’s  officer,  who  remarked 
that  the  Radio  City  Music  Hall  could  hold 
half  the  population  of  Friedrichshafen, 
Germany,  the  dirigible’s  home.  Later, 
while  seeing  New  York  from  the  Observa- 
tion Roof,  one  of  the  officers  was  amazed 
that  New  Yorkers  could  stand  at  the 
height  at  which  a zeppelin  usually  cruises. 
It  seems  that  water  ballast  is  dumped  to 
raise  the  dirigible  and  gas  is  released  to 
bring  the  air  monster  down.  This  latter 
procedure  is  expensive  so  it  pays  for  the 
zeppelin  to  travel  close  to  the  ground. 

BACK:  Tom  Tart  has  returned  from  an 
extended  leave  of  absence  to  resume  his 
new  duties  co-ordinating  Guest  Relations 
staff  operations. 

GYM  CLASSES  END:  A1  Walker’s  gym 
classes  for  athletically  inclined  female 
NBCites  held  its  last  Spring  meeting  May 
26,  graduating  twenty-two  capable  Bad- 
minton players.  Classes  will  resume  in 
October. 


BILL  PAISLEY 

Arkansas  Centennial 

( Continued  from  Page  1 ) 

Then  from  Washington,  D.  C.  will  come 
the  voices  of  Senators  Haddie  Caraway 
(first  woman  member  of  the  U.  S.  Sen- 
ate) and  Joseph  T.  Robinson,  both  of 
Arkansas.  Bob  Burns,  who  says  that 
Arkansas  is  the  home  of  the  bazooka,  will 
play  that  newest  of  sensational  instru- 
ments from  Hollywood.  Lum  and  Abner, 
who  went  to  school  with  Bill  Paisley  at 
the  University  of  Arkansas  and  whose  real 
names  are  Chester  Lanck  and  Norris  Goff, 
respectively,  will  be  heard  from  Chicago. 
The  elaborate  program  will  be  closed  by 
Russ  Morgan’s  Orchestra  in  New  York. 
Immediately  after  the  big  celebration, 
which  he  has  carefully  supervised.  Bill 
Paisley  leaves  for  Arkansas  on  a well- 
earned  vacation. 

Chaminade  Chorus 

N The  Chaminade  Chorus,  a woman’s 
glee  club  which  draws  its  members  from 
NBC’s  female  personnel,  recently  termi- 
nated its  first  season  with  a dinner  and 
theater  party.  Following  the  arrangements 
made  by  a committee  composed  of  Bar- 
bara Clark,  chairman,  and  Grace  Sniffin, 
Ruth  Barrett,  Mary  Leard  and  Alice 
Abner,  a group  of  eighteen  dined  at  the 
Barbour  Club  on  52nd  Street.  Besides  the 
committee,  the  following  members  at- 
tended: Frances  Barbour.  President; 

Helen  Winter,  Treasurer;  Jane  Ayers, 
Helen  Slater,  Mae  Dehn,  Gertrude  Ram- 
sey, Frances  Sprague,  Anna  Reiss,  Helen 
Moore,  Marguerite  Saffert,  Evelyn  Sniffin, 
Kathryn  Hayes,  and  Madge  Boynton. 

After  dinner  was  concluded,  the  chorus’ 
plans  for  1936-37  were  discussed.  It  was 
unanimously  agreed  that  the  organiza- 
tion’s work  should  be  continued  and  that 
members  should  be  prepared  to  start  re- 
hearsals again  in  the  fall.  Then  the  meet- 
ing was  adjourned  and  seventeen  of 
the  eighteen  present  went  to  the  theater 
together. 


News  Flashes 

VACATIONERS:  Dwight  Herrick  (GR) 
to  look  up  old  chums  and  relatives  in  for- 
mer home  towns,  Chicago  and  St.  Louis, 
Illinois  as  well  as  Port  Edward,  Wiscon- 
sin; Eve  Boudreau  (FA)  to  visit  her  par- 
ents in  Marlboro,  Massachusetts;  Henry 
Albert  (GR)  to  Atlantic  City  for  plenty  of 
tennis,  swimming,  and  dancing;  Patrick 
Tracy  (Se)  will  set  out  to  see  the  world — 
in  two  weeks;  Phillip  Crosby  (GR)  will 
localize  activity  as  he  intends  to  stay  in 
the  city  to  study  voice  in  preparation  for 
a concert;  Esther  Ramous  (PBX)  will 
join  the  westward  movement  with  inten- 
tions of  visiting  Chicago  and  all  points 
mid-west;  and  then  there’s  Walter  O’Hara 
(GS)  who  is  going  to  try  something  he 
has  never  done  before — get  married; 
Anabelle  Graham  (CS)  ran  off  to  Havana 
to  see  about  a man  who  plays  a rhumba 
on  his  tuba  down  in  Cuba;  Marguerite 
Monroe  (PR)  off  to  Hamilton,  Bermuda 
for  sleeping,  eating,  fishing,  swimming, 
and  sunning. 

MARRIAGE:  John  Williams  (St)  gets  his 
mail  these  days  addressed  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
J.  W.  and  you’re  right!  John  took  the 
plunge  May  9th  and  from  all  reports  he 
has  unanimously  elected  himself  the  hap- 
piest man  in  the  world.  Mrs.  Williams 
was  the  former  Margaret  T.  Sherwood. 
ILLNESS:  Pat  Hanagan  (Se)  was  oper- 
ated on  for  gastritis  and  is  recuperating 
nicely. 

LEFT  US:  Adele  H.  Purcell  (AS)  has 
gone  to  Hollywood,  California  to  join  the 
Fanchon  and  Marco  Theatrical  Agency 
after  serving  NBC  for  eight  years.  There 
she  will  become  assistant  to  Mr.  Hal 
Kemp,  former  manager  of  the  Popular 
Division,  Artists  Service.  Her  new  address 
will  be:  5600  Sunset  Blvd.,  Hollywood, 
California. 

Key:  AS  (Artists  Service)  ; FA  (First  Aid  I ; 
GR  (Guest  Relations);  MM  (Mail-Messen- 
ger); PBX  (Phone  Room);  PR  (Press); 
GS  (General  Service)  ; ST  (Statistics)  ; C.S 
Central  Stenographic) . 

Baseball  in  the  Air 

( Continued  from  Page  1 ) 
are:  Arden  Hauser.  Herb  Gross,  Dorm 
Albert.  Val  Kallegeros,  John  Bell,  and 
Joe  Cain.  James  McCarthy  is  assistant 
manager. 

This  year,  as  last.  NBC  will  play  an 
exhibition  game  with  Sing  Sing  Peniten- 
tiary at  Ossining.  The  date  has  not  been 
set  as  yet  but  as  we  go  to  press  negotia- 
tions are  being  concluded.  This  game  was 
one  of  the  highlights  of  last  season’s 
schedule  as  the  inmates  showed  them- 
selves to  be  able  bat  wielders  by  trouncing 
us  5 — 1. 


4 


NBC  TRANSMITTER,  MAY,  1936 


NBC  TENTH  ANNIVERSARY 

( Continued  from  Page  1 ) 

and  I put  it  on  ice  to  keep.  Unfortunately,  one  day  I left  in  a hurry 
for  a week-end  date  and  forgot  the  fish.  When  the  boys  came  back 
late  the  next  afternoon,  what  little  ice  was  left  had  melted  and  the 
fish  was  sadly  in  need  of  repairs.  1 think  I was  sworn  at  for  the 
next  two  months.” 

Enid  Beaupre  in  Sales  Promotion  is  impressed  by  “the  facility 
with  which  one  now  hears  broadcasts  from  all  over  the  world.  I 
remember  one  day  in  1922  I had  just  bought  a small  crystal  radio 
receiver  in  Albany.  With  almost  feverish  enthusiasm,  I climbed 
a tree  to  rig  up  an  aerial  in  a hurry  so  I could  hear  Guglielmo 
Marconi  broadcast  from  WGY  during  his  brief  visit  in  Schenec- 
tady. After  that  episode  my  husband  decided  that  I was  incurably 
radio-minded;  so  be  bought  me  a better  radio  set  and  rigged  up 
one  of  the  best  aerials  in  tbe  city.  It  was  not  unusual  for  me  to 
DX  until  three  o’clock  in  the  morning.  We  had  to  do  a lot  of 
tuning  and  worrying  in  those  days  to  pick  up  a program  only  a 
few  miles  away.  Now  radio  has  reached  international  propor- 
tions; we  press  a button  and  the  world  comes  to  pay  us  a per- 
sonal call.” 

William  Fairbanks  in  Statistical: — “The  emergency  systems 
now  in  operation  show  the  great  forward  strides  we’ve  taken  in 
radio  operation.  I remember  a sad  experience  I had  at  711  Fifth 
Avenue  after  they  had  remodelled  an  office  to  provide  a beautiful 
‘si)eaker’  studio  for  timid  broadcasters.  We  used  to  show  visitors 
how  the  announcer’s  panel  functioned  from  this  room  but  unfor- 
tunately, unknown  to  us.  the  Engineering  department  realized  the 
value  of  using  the  studio  as  a relay  point  to  route  nemo  broad- 
casts to  otlier  studios.  One  day  I brought  some  guests  into  the 
studio  and  1 was  in  the  process  of  explaining  the  intricacies  of 
tlie  announcer's  control  board  when  1 deftly  threw  the  nemo 
switcli  and  said:  ‘This  is  how  you  cut  a program  off  the  air.'  Four 
engineers  in  the  main  control  room  almost  jumped  out  of  their 
shoes  when  they  discovered  that  the  entire  Blue  network  was  off 
the  air.  I’ll  never  forget  how  excited  Engineer  Wankel  looked 
when  he  burst  through  the  doors  and  scared  me  out  of  a year’s 
growth.” 

.Milton  ,|.  Cross,  Announcer’s  Division: — “It  was  difficult  in 
those  days  because  of  the  limited  number  of  radio  receivers  in 
use  to  find  anyone  who  had  heard  you  broadcast.  One  night  we 
kept  a line  open  until  10:30  p.m.  for  a Dr.  Abbott  who  was  to  be 
the  principal  speaker  on  a Roosevelt  Commemorative  Program; 
we  had  been  instructed  that  the  studios  had  gone  off  the  air.  But 
we  took  a chance  and  introduced  Dr.  Abbott  over  a dead  micro- 
phone. which  only  we  knew  was  not  on.  and  went  through  the 
motions  of  broadcasting  the  entire  s|)eech.  It  was  not  until  years 
later  that  Dr.  Abbott  knew  that  his  speech  had  not  been  broad- 
cast. That  situation  could  never  happen  again.” 

Joseph  D’Agostino.  Engineering: — “I’ll  never  forget  the  win- 
ter of  1927  when  the  transmitter  at  WJZ  was  so  coated  with  ice 
that  a section  of  the  lead-in  from  the  antenna  was  lying  on  the 
ground.  So  we  brought  out  a lot  of  wooden  chairs  and  kept  it 
off  the  ground  while  broadcasting  continued  as  usual.” 

Idella  Grindlay.  Studio  Assignments,  remembers  when  pro- 
grams followed  one  another  in  the  same  studio  from  7:30  a.m. 
to  6:00  p.m.  each  day;  when  the  Band  of  a Thousand  Melodies, 
the  Parnassus  Trio,  and  the  Gotham  Trio  contributed  several 
hours  of  network  programs  a day;  how  the  Manhatters  (a 
“swing”  group)  had  to  climb  aboard  Morning  Devotions’  final 
Amen  to  get  on  the  air  in  time  from  the  same  studio;  when  three 
hard-boiled  men  who  relieved  the  Parnassus  Trio  for  vacation 
were  called  the  Three  Little  Maids.  Miss  Grindlay  agrees  that  a 
lot  can  happen  in  ten  years. 


Lets  Get  Acquainted 

• You  ought  to  know  Dr. 

Max  Jordan,  Ph.D.,  NBC’s 
Minister  at  Large  for  Con- 
tinental Europe. 
because  . . . his  production 
of  the  recent  broadcasts  on 
the  maiden  voyage  of  the 
Hindenburg  turns  the  spot- 
light in  his  direction. 
because  . . . his  present  work 
as  representative  for  NBC 
on  the  continent  is  greatly 
enhanced  by  his  training  at 
the  Universities  of  Jena, 

Heidelberg,  Frankfort  and  Berlin,  and  by  his  experience  as  for- 
eign correspondent  on  both  sides  of  the  ocean. 

because  ...  he  fills  his  boots  (and  they  are  “seven  league  boots” 
which  carry  him  back  and  forth  across  the  face  of  Europe)  with 
a dynamic  personality  and  an  enthusiasm  rare  even  in  this  fast 
moving  era. 

because  ...  he  likes  ice  cream.  One  of  his  first  acts  upon  arrival 
at  our  Press  Department  was  to  order  up  a “raft”  of  that  delicacy. 
because  . . . his  accounts  of  the  recent  flight,  interesting  through- 
out, had  this  high-light:  The  very  first  landmark  which  he  clearly 
recognized  in  New  York  was  the  red  beacon  atop  the  RCA 
Building  which  houses  our  studios.  As  he  remarked  over  the 
air,  “I  feel  like  going  down  in  a parachute  instead  of  flying  on 
to  Lakehurst.” 

because  ...  he  is  nearly  as  well  known  in  Europe,  his  field  of 
operations,  as  some  of  our  prominent  Americans  in  their  own 
back  yards. 

We  give  you  Dr.  Max  Jordan, — at  home  abroad. 

S TAT  I C 

• Shucks  Elmer!  time  to  write  ’nother  column  for  that  ding 
dogged  editor. 

Andy  Kinbacher  explained  to  a group  of  tourists  that  if  the 
beams  of  the  photo  electric  eyes  in  the  elevator  doors  were  broken, 
the  doors  would  “pop”  open.  Wherupon  the  rumbling  voice  of 
one  witty  tourist  was  heard  to  pun — “Oh!!  a Popeye!!!” 
(Ed.)  Andy  winced! 

’Sa  small  world!  On  a special  German  tour  recently.  Herb 
Gross  met  a rather  elderly  gentleman  who  had  known  his  father 
as  a boy  of  5 in  Venezuela.  Tbe  man  had  been  a clerk  in  the  coffee 
exporting  house  owned  by  Herb’s  grandfather.  Herb’s  Grandpop, 
by  the  way.  was  the  German  Ambassador  to  Venezuela.  There  is, 
it  seems,  an  executive  strain  in  the  Gross  family. 

Oh  yes,  and  something  for  our  bird  lovers!  Scan  tbis  column 
regularly.  Dear  Readers,  for  information  regarding  your  tweet 
little  birdie.  (Golfers  included.)  It  seems  that  someone  saw 
Francis  Fradella  of  Guest  Relations  diving  around  the  second 
floor  with  a green  fedora  in  his  hand.  He  looked  very  much  as 
though  he  had  a combination  of  St.  Vitus  dance  and  the  Russian 
itch.  Upon  closer  investigation  they  learned  he  was  trying  to 
capture  one  of  Cheerio’s  fine  feathered  friends  which  had  e.scaped 
its  cage.  Think  of  all  the  energy  he  could  have  saved  if  he  had 
just  put  a “small  portion”  of  salt  on  the  little  bird’s  tail. 
Tch!!  Tch!! 

Try  this  on  your  cerebrum  (Webster’s  Unabridged) . Take  your 
age — .Multiply  by  2 — add  5 — multiply  by  50 — subtract  365 — add 
the'  loose  change  in  your  pocket  under  a dollar — add  115 — and 
the  first  two  figures  are  your  age  and  the  last  two  the  change 
in  your  pocket.  If  you’ve  seen  this  before — that’s  what  / get  for 
reading  old  magazines. 


NBC  TBANSIMITTEB 


VOL.  i 


lUNE,  1956 


NO.  () 


John  H.  McDonald 
Explains  Our  New 
Cost  Accounting 

■ The  primary  purpose  of  the  cost  ac- 
counting system  now  being  installed  in 
New  York  is  to  determine  the  costs  of  in- 
dividual programs  and  of  classes  and  types 
of  programs.  For  example,  when  an  an- 
nouncer, production  director,  or  engineer 
spends  three  hours  at  a rehearsal  and  half 
an  hour  at  the  broadcast  of  a given  pro- 
gram, their  time  is  a direct  cost  of  that 
program.  House  orchestra  expense,  the 
cost  of  any  facilities  that  may  be  ordered 
especially  for  a particular  program,  sus- 
taining artists’  fees,  and  many  other  ex- 
penses are  similarly  applicable  to  spe- 
cific programs.  By  segregating  all  such 
expenses,  the  cost  of  a given  program  is 
secured.  At  present,  no  effort  is  being 
made  to  allocate  overhead  expenses,  such 
as  rent,  power,  advertising  and  sales  pro- 
motion costs,  etc.,  to  individual  programs. 

After  the  direct  cost  of  each  program  is 
secured,  all  programs  are  classified  as  to 
type  and  content,  such  as  light  and  dance 
music  commercial  studio  15-minute  pro- 
grams, dramatic  sustaining  studio  30-min- 
ute  programs,  sports,  special  events,  etc. 
The  average  cost  per  broadcast  of  all  pro- 
grams in  each  class  then  is  calculated.  In 
this  way,  the  cost  of  an  individual  program 
can  be  compared  with  the  average  cost  of 
all  programs  of  the  same  .kind. 

A second  important  purpose  of  the  cost 
system  is  to  determine  the  cost  of  depart- 
( Continued  on  Page  4) 

Chizzini  Honored 

B Lieutenant  Frank  C.  Chiz- 
zini, assistant  manager  of  our 
Electrical  Tran- 
scription  de- 
partment, was 
elected  to  the 
Executive  Com- 
mittee  of  the 
Military  Intelli- 
gence Reserve 
Society  at  its  an- 
nual  meeting 
held  in  the  Of- 
ficers’ club  on 
Governors  Is- 
land, according  to  a report  re- 
ceived from  Major  Donald  D. 

Millikin,  RCA,  who  is  historian 
of  this  association. 


ENGINEER  LOSES  LIFE 


EARLE  L TYLER 


B Earle  L.  Tyler,  NBC  engineer,  lost  his 
life  in  Lake  Erie  off  Vermilion,  Ohio  on 
June  14.  Mr.  Tyler,  accompanied  by  other 
engineers,  their  wives  and  friends,  was  re- 
turning from  a pleasure  cruise  to  San- 
dusky, Ohio,  following  the  Republican 
National  Convention  when  he  slipped 
from  the  wet  deck  of  the  cruiser  as  the 
craft  gave  a sudden  lurch  in  the  choppy 
sea. 

George  McElrath.  NBC  operating  en- 
gineer of  New  York,  and  Clarence  Davis, 
of  Cleveland,  owner  of  the  cruiser,  dived 
into  the  water  and  attempted  to  rescue 
Mr.  Tyler  but  were  unsuccessful.  The 
body  was  recovered  June  23  at  Huronia 
Beach,  Huron,  Ohio. 

Mr.  Tyler  was  employed  as  a design  en- 
gineer by  NBC  since  1928.  He  was  29 
years  of  age  and  resided  at  36  Demerest 
Ave..  Oradell,  N.  J.  His  widow  survives 
him. 


Do  You  Know  What 
Some  of  Our  Station 
Call  Letters  Stand  for? 

® It  was  almost  nine  o’clock.  Eastern  Day- 
light Saving  Time,  when  Rudy  Vallee 
brought  his  Thursday  evening  variety 
show  to  an  end,  but  to  a farmer  in  the 
hills  of  Nebraska  it  was  only  six  o’clock 
in  the  evening.  He  was  resetting  his  watch 
when  the  chimes  rang  and  the  local  an- 
nouncer said,  "WOW,  Omaha.”  To  the 
other  thousands  of  listeners  who  heard  the 
announcement  it  probably  meant  nothing 
but  the  identification  letters  of  the  Omaha 
station.  But  to  our  friend,  the  farmer. 
WOW  suggested  a thought  in  his  mind  as 
he  slowly  wound  his  watch.  To  him  who 
knew,  those  three  mysterious  letters  stood 
for  the  Woodmen  of  the  World  Life  Insur- 
ance Association,  and  they  reminded  him 
that  the  quarterly  payment  on  the  pre- 
mium of  his  life  insurance  policy  was  due 
within  a week.  Turning  to  his  wife  who 
was  clearing  the  table  of  the  Sunday  sup- 
per dishes  he  said,  "Say.  Maw.  don’t  ft>r- 
get  to  remind  me  to  go  to  the  village  in  the 
mornin’  for  that  money  order  for  the  in- 
surance people.  I nearly  lost  my  policy 
the  last  time  I forgot  to  pay  them.” 

In  Portland,  Maine,  the  desk  clerk  of 
the  Congress  Square  Hotel  expanded  his 
chest  with  pride  when  the  announcer’s 
voice  came  from  the  hotel  lobby’s  loud- 
speaker with  "WCSH.  Portland.  Maine.” 
To  him  the  last  three  letters  of  the  NBC 
Portland  outlet  stood  for  Congress  Square 
( Continued  on  Page  4 ) 

WEAF-WJZ  vs.  WINS 
— in  Baseball  July  11 

B Put  on  your  bonnets  you 
baseball  fans,  there’s  a treat  in 
store  for  you!  On  Saturday, 
July  11,  the  NBC  Baseball  team 
steps  outside  the  Motion  Pic- 
ture Baseball  league  where  it 
has  been  tops  for  the  past  two 
seasons,  to  play  the  \^'INS  bat- 
swingers.  The  game  will  be 
played  either  at  Ebbetts  Field. 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  or  at  the  New- 
ark Bears’  Park.  Newark,  N.  J. 
Tentative  plans  have  been  made 
for  tbe  broadcasting  of  a sum- 
mary of  the  game  over  WINS. 

Manager  Jack  Wahlstrom 
(GR)  sees  a close  contest. 


Compliments  from  Abroad 

To  the  Editor 
NBC  TRANSMITTER 

It  may  interest  you  to  know  that  Dr.  Kurt  von  Boeckmann, 
head  of  the  foreign  department  of  the  German  Broadcasting 
Company,  who  at  the  same  time  is  First  Vice-President  of  the 
International  Broadcasting  Union  of  Geneva,  expressed  his  sin- 
cere admiration  for  the  excellent  work  done  by  the  members 
of  our  Guest  Relations  staff.  He  could  not  find  words  to 
convey  his  appreciation  of  what  the  various  guides  had  done 
for  him  while  he  was  visiting  in  Radio  City.  He  said  that 
nowhere  in  Europe  had  he  ever  been  given  similar  satisfaction 
in  a radio  center. 

Also  Mr.  Willem  Vogt,  who  is  head  of  Avro,  the  largest 
broadcasting  organization  in  Holland,  had  much  praise  to 
offer  our  staff.  He  was  amazed,  he  said,  to  find  that  although 
he  had  only  been  here  onee,  the  receptionist  knew  his  name 
the  next  time  he  came,  without  having  to  ask  him. 

Max  Jordan. 

NBC  Representative  for  Continental  Europe. 


2 


NBC  TRANSMITTER 


NIU;  TIUNSMITTER 

VoL.  2 JUNE,  1936  No.  6 

Frank  C.  Lepore,  Editor 
Ary  R.  Moll,  Assistant  Editor 
Walter  A.  Wiebel.  Circulation  Manager 
CouLsoN  S.  Squires,  Stajj  Artist 

ASSOCIATES 

D.  Caldwell  Davis  Alwin  D.  Foster 

Walter  Clark  Bill  Garden 

Don  Gardiner  Francis  J.  Fradella 

CONTRIBUTORS 

Eiicene  Haley  Gordon  Locue 

Robert  Meaciiem 


T-cuUm^  a*td  Success 

1st  Radio  Wave:  Ah,  what  a weary  life! 

What  endless  care  and  strife! 

2nd  Radio  Wave:  Why,  1 say. 

What's  hiting  you  today? 

1st  Radio  Wave:  Three  tenors  and  a flute. 

A trumpet  and  a lute. 

All  rehearsed  me. 

The  sound  technician  nursed  me. 

The  engineers  all  cursed  me; 

Ah.  and  then. 

W hen  I was  through. 

All  they  made  me  was  a squeak 
In  the  violinist's  shoe. 

Heartless  men! 

2nd  Radio  Wave:  It’s  a shame. 

But  I’m  sure  you’re  not  to  blame. 

I’ve  had  my  headaches  too. 

You’ll  have  your  better  nights. 

Sure  enough. 

Like  the  time 

You  were  Denqisey’s  uppercut 
At  the  big  Chicago  fight. 

You  were  prime! 

I’ve  achieved  my  life’s  ambition. 

I’ve  attained  the  high  position 
That  r ve  strived  for. 

I made  the  right  connections, 

And  they  gave  me  the  selection 
I’ve  connived  for. 

I’m  sure  you  can’t  conceive. 

And  I know  you  won’t  believe 
My  happiness; 

I’m  a perfect  open  vowel 
In  the  President’s  address! 

Eugene  S.  Haley, 
Guest  Relations. 


The  World's 
Most  Crowded  Street 

■ The  most  congested,  hardest  pounded  street  in  the  world  isn’t 
Broadway  or  Fifth  Avenue.  The  street  on  which  humanity  is 
bunched  up  more  densely  than  any  other,  the  world’s  most  trav- 
eled thoroughfare  is  Rut  Street. 

It  is  a broad,  level  stretch  to  nowhere.  If  you  go  forward  today 
just  as  you  did  yesterday,  without  a new  plan,  thought  or  inspir- 
ation for  the  day,  you’re  on  Rut  Street.  If  you  are  satisfied  with 
the  mental  boundaries  of  last  week,  last  month  or  last  year, 
you’re  pounding  the  pavements  of  Rut  Street. 


Chatter 

• GO  AHEAD  AND  SUE  ME  BUT  . . . here  are  a few  things 
seen  and  heard  while  rambling  round  the  town. . . . Bill  McCaffrey 
talking  to  Frank  Fay  in  the  NBC  lobby  and  a woman  asking  the 
Main  Hall  attendant  if  the  man  on  the  right  (McCaffrey)  was  a 
radio  star. . . . Helen  Winter's  hat— the  red  one  with  the  red  flow- 
ers in  it,  almost  blowing  off  as  she  crossed  Sixth  Ave. . . . An  auto- 
mobile nearly  splashing  mud  on  Flo  Cunningham's  natty  white 
suit  as  she  hurried  up  49th  Street. . . . Miss  PBX  McDermott  in 
earnest  conversation  with  a sales  girl  in  a nearby  department 
store. 

And  here  are  a couple  of  similes. ..as  accurate  as  Joe  D'  Agos- 
tino  bowling  a ball  at  the  head-pin  ...  as  serious  as  Bill  Lundell 
while  tearing  through  the  NBCorridors  ...  as  cheerful  as  John 
Almonte  when  greeting  a guest ...  as  pleasant  as  Frances 
Sprague  of  our  General  Library  while  helping  you  look  for  a 
book  ...  as  speedy  as  Geraldine  Fenrich  as  she  dashes  off  a 
memo  on  her  typewriter  ...  as  necessary  as  the  unsung  work  of 
our  Air-conditioning  Engineers. 

Wayne  Randall  and  Abe  Schechter  of  Press  are  certainly 
busy  men  what  with  their  hopping  all  over  the  country  by  auto, 
plane  and  train. . . . And  Jack  Keane  wants  everyone  to  know 
that  he’s  getting  married  . . . next  year. 

And  did  anyone  ever  see  a production  man  without  a stop- 
watch in  his  hand  or  Bill  Paisley  without  an  unfinished  song 
under  his  arm  or  Tom  Longmore  when  he  wasn’t  out  of  breath 
or  Ruby  Cowan  without  a pipe  in  his  mouth  or  Frances  Rocke- 
feller King  when  she  didn’t  wear  a cheerful  smile  or  George 
Voutsas  when  he  wasn’t  humming  a tune. . . . And  now  we’ll  close 
with  a tip  to  all  NBCites  who  may  be  thinking  of  going  hitch- 
hiking on  their  vacation— There’s  many  a step  twixt  the  thumb 
and  the  lift. 


Koehler  Receives  Award 

• "Shirley  Temple  at  the  Radio  City  Music  Hall  starting  the 
week  of  .lime  25?  And  how  I’ll  be  there!’’ 

So  spoke  Frank  Koehler  (Guest  Relations!  when  told  he  won 
the  TRANSMITTER’S  monthly  award  for  the  best  anecdote. 
Well,  it's  too  late  now  for  you  others  to  get  those  two  passes  to 
the  Radio  City  Music  Hall  to  see  Shirley  in  her  latest  hit.  "Poor 
Little  Rich  Girl”  hut  next  month’s  two  contests— one  for  the  best 
anecdote  and  one  for  the  best  cartoon  idea  for  "Mr.  Okeedokee” 
will  he  open  to  all  NBC  employees.  So  take  your  pencil  in  hand 
and  get  your  share  of  those  complimentary  passes. 


3 

Spot  Announcements 

® (barmen  Barrett  of  Larchmont,  N.  Y., 
and  Miss  Mary  Eileen  Cavanaugh  of  New 
\ Ork  City,  were  married  June  15,  1956, 
at  4 F^.M.  in  St.  John’s  Epi.scopal  Church. 
Larchmont,  N.  Upon  returning  from 
their  honeymoon  in  the  Adirondacks,  the 
newlyweds  will  reside  at  305  East  44th 
Street,  New  York  City.  Barrett,  a mem- 
ber of  our  Guest  Relations  Division,  will 
return  to  his  duties  at  NBC  June  29th. 


JUNE,  1936 

News  Flashes 

CONVALESCING:  FLngineer  Edgar 
Kampf  (N.  Y.l  left  the  F'rench  Hospital 
June  16  after  a 10  day  stay  for  an  ap- 
])endectomy.  The  operation  took  25  min- 
utes over  all.  Edgar  hopes  to  be  hack  in 
harness  by  July  7th. 

VACATIONING:  Karl  Fischl  (Mimeo)  to 
Dartmouth.  N.  H.  by  car  with  friends  for 
hunting  and  rest— back  June  28;  Arthur 
Knauff  (M  imeo ) with  brother  to  upper 
N.  Y.  and  Me.  on  a motor  trip  a la  nomad 
with  tennis,  swimming  en  route— back 
July  6;  Gabriella  Danfy  (Audience 
Mail ) localizing  activities  to  Elmhurst, 
L.  I.  and  nearby  beaches— back  June  29; 
Dorothy  McDermott  (PBX)  likewise  lo- 
calizing vacation  with  visits  out  of  town 
to  friends  in  N.  J.— back  July  6;  Spencer 
J.  McNory  will  hie  himself  down  to  Wash- 
ington, D.  C.  for  sightseeing  to  take  ten 
days— back  June  28.  Don  Russell  (An- 
nouncing! spent  his  vacation  in  Porto 
Rico. 

NEWCOMERS  TO  GUEST  RELA- 
TIONS: Rex  Conn  Jr.  from  New  Orleans, 
La.;  Alfred  Osborn  from  Bay  Ridge, 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y.;  David  Gaines  from 
Greenwich,  Conn.;  Read  Jewett  from 
White  Plains,  N.Y. ; Charles  Klein  Jr.  from 
Metuchen,  N.  J.;  Franklin  M.  Noecker 
Jr.  from  Removo,  Pa.;  Burton  Adams  of 
Springfield,  Mass. 

LECTURER:  Dr.  Franklin  Dunham,  NBC 

Educational  Director,  has  been  announced 
as  one  of  the  guest  lecturers  on  radio  at 
New  York  University  for  the  fall  and 
spring  terms  (1936-37  ). 

REUNION : The  Far  East  editor  of  a large 
newspaper  addressed  his  wife  in  Japanese 
on  a recent  tour  conducted  by  Guide 
Meachem.  Another  tourist  overheard  and 
interjected  a remark  also  in  Japanese. 
After  becoming  acquainted  both  were  sur- 
prised to  find  that  the  intruder  had  been 
copy  boy  on  the  editor’s  paper  forty  years 
previous. 

MORE  MARRIAGES:  Anthony  Hennig 
(TR)  has  named  October  as  the  month 
when  he  will  promise  to  "love,  honor  and 
protect”;  John  Pawlek  (ENG)  pulled 


Milepost 


William  Haussler  .NBC  Studio 

ELIZABETH  A.  WISE 

who  observed  her  ninth  year  of  service  with  the 
NBC  on  June  28.  Mrs.  Wise  joined  the  Nat- 
ional Broadcasting  Company  in  1927  when 
we  were  located  at  195  Broadway  and  has 
been  with  us  ever  since. 


a fast  one  on  his  intimate  friends  when  he 
secretly  marched  to  the  altar  and  was 
knit  in  matrimony  on  his  vacation  some- 
time between  June  15  and  28;  Dorian  St. 
George,  former  NBC  guide,  now  asso- 
ciated with  Station  WLVA,  Lynchburg, 
Va.,  said  'T  do”  June  24. 

BIRTHS:  If  you  see  Production’s  Howard 
Wiley  looking  very  anxious  these  days,  he 
probably  hasn’t  yet  become  the  proud 
father  he  soon  expects  to  be;  N.  Y.  Night 
Press  Representative  John  D.  McTigue 
wants  the  world  to  know  he  is  the  proud 
father  of  6 lbs.  13  ozs.  bouncing  baby  boy 
who  was  ushered  into  the  world  at  1:30 
A.M.,  Saturday,  June  20.  Proud  Pop  Mc- 
Tigue. ".  . . and  he  looks  just  like  his  old 
man.” 


WE  DOFF  OUR  HATS  TO:  efficient  Emil 
Corwin  of  Press  for  his  swell  job  editing 
our  NBC  News  Service  with  its  clever 
eye-catching  captions  and  neat  layout;  to 
the  combined  efforts  of  the  Sales  Promo- 
tion, Statistical,  Drafting,  and  Pur- 
chasing depts.  for  the  conception,  plan- 
ning and  execution  of  The  Good  New 
Supimertime,  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
promotional  pieces  ever  turned  out  by 
NBC;  to  Guides  Ary  R.  Moll,  Charles 
Whalen,  and  William  Garden  upon 
their  recent  promotions  to  the  rank  of 


\.  Y.  Daily  News  Photo 

The  newly  married  Barretts  are  shown  above 
leaving  St.  John’s  Episcopal  Church,  Larch- 
mont, N.  Y.,  after  the  marriage  ceremony. 

■ Miss  Helen  Sombathy  of  Yonkers,  N.  Y. 
became  the  wife  of  our  Wilbur  Auth  at 
6 P.M.  Saturday,  June  13,  1936  in  the 
Church  of  the  Holy  Trinity,  East  82nd 
Street,  N.  Y.  C.  Their  honeymoon  will 
take  them  to  Maine  by  auto.  Upon  return- 
ing they  will  make  their  home  at  2965 
East  196th  Street,  Pelham  Parkway,  N.  Y. 
from  June  29  on.  NBC  representatives  at 
the  wedding  included  Mae  E.  Katz,  Vir- 
ginia R.  Beers,  William  S.  Callander, 
John  Williams,  and  others. 


Chief  Guides,  the  grade  next  below  assis- 
tant supervisors  of  guides;  to  Guide 
Wahlstrom  upon  his  recent  promotion 
to  the  position  of  Supervisor  of  Day  Floor 
Operations  of  Guest  Relations;  to  former 
Guides  John  Hancock,  Arden  Hauser 
and  William  R.  Nugent  who  have  been 
advanced  to  the  Studio  Set-Up  staff;  and 
to  Theodore  Kruse,  ex-Guest  Relations 
who  has  been  promoted  to  Maintenance 
Engineering. 


4 


NBC  TRANSMITTER,  JUNE,  1936 


NEW  COST  ACCOUNTING  SYSTEM 
EXPLAINED 

( Continued  from  Page  I ) 

mental  functions  or  activities  in  terms  of  work  performed.  For 
example,  the  work  of  the  Press  department  consists  of  such 
activities  as  preparing  and  distributing  daily  program  listings, 
preparing  and  distributing  the  Daily  News  Report,  rendering 
photographic  service,  etc.  All  departmental  salaries  and  expenses 
are  classified  under  these  headings  and  at  the  end  of  the  month 
a cost  statement,  based  on  departmental  functions,  is  sent  to 
the  department  head. 

The  cost  system  is  also  being  used  to  determine  the  share  of 
General  Service  department  expense  applicable  to  each  oper- 
ating department.  For  example,  the  Central  Stenographic  de- 
partment serves  all  departments  of  the  company.  The  first  step 
is  to  calculate  the  total  direct  expense  of  this  service.  The  share 
of  the  cost  applicable  to  each  department  is  then  allocated  to 
them.  The  cost  of  mailing  and  messenger  service,  including  post- 
age, the  expense  of  duplicating  work,  the  cost  of  toll  telephone 
calls,  and  all  other  general  services  are  handled  in  the  same  way. 

At  present,  the  cost  accounting  plan  is  in  operation  only  in 
New  York.  It  is  planned,  however,  to  install  it  in  all  offices  within 
the  next  few  months  so  that  by  the  end  of  the  year,  it  will  be  an 
established  procedure  throughout  the  entire  organization. 

Ed.  The  cost  accounting  department's  personnel  consists  of 
John  H.  McDonald,  manager;  Muriel  Parker,  secretary  to  the 
manager;  Lucius  Robertson,  Ann  M.  Tolomeo,  John  Wagner, 
Robert  F.  Miller,  Bert  A.  Peterson,  Norton  R.  Schonfeld,  and 
Clifford  B.  Warden. 

Stamp  Club  Notes 

Left  is  reproduced 
the  first  postage 
r.tamp  in  the  world. 

The  first  stamp  of 
the  loTiian  Isles,  is 
pictured  on  the 
riffht.  Both  stamps 
are  described  in  the 
article  below. 


• The  NBC  Stamp  Club’s  collection,  inaugurated  by  a gift  of 
Great  Britain’s  first  stamp  from  Theodore  Steinway,  is  now  well 
on  its  way.  Mr.  Barker,  RCA  television  engineer,  has  contributed 
the  second  and  third  stamps  of  Great  Britain  while  Frank  Reed 
of  Traffic,  new  secretary  of  the  club,  donated  the  first  stamp 
issued  for  the  Ionian  Isles,  then  a British  Protectorate.  This  is 
of  interest  because  there  were  only  three  different  Ionian  stamps 
so  issued,  the  Isles  having  used  stamps  of  Greece  since  1859. 

Mr.  Lohr  gave  the  club  a letter  flown  on  the  "Hawaii  Clipper” 
on  its  first  trip  eastward  across  the  Pacific  as  well  as  a sheet  of 
six  imperforate  Byrd  stamps  and  a stamp  of  Russia  portraying 
Kalin  speaking  into  a microphone  which  was  brought  over  from 
Europe  by  Max  Jordan.  The  Russian  stamp  prompted  the  club 
to  start  a collection  of  stamps  picturing  or  referring  to  radio 
in  any  manner. 

On  Monday,  June  1 the  group  was  addressed  by  Capt.  Tim 
Healy  who  made  his  talk  especially  interesting  by  his  enthusiastic 
manner.  On  Friday  of  the  same  week  the  club  members  were 
invited  by  Mr.  Lohr  to  see  his  United  States  stamps,  which  repre- 
sent one  of  the  most  complete  collections  of  mint  blocks  and 
singles  in  existence,  almost  entirely  in  superb  condition.  Walter 
Koons  of  Press  also  showed  his  fine  collection  of  commemorative 
used  singles  and  mint  blocks. 


Let^s  Get  Acquainted 

• YOU  ought  to  know 
C.  H.  Thurman  who  is 

now  supervisor  of  our 
New  York  Mail-Mes- 
senger section. 
because  ...  his  present 
position  is  one  of  the  type 
that  has  employed  him 
for  the  past  few  years.  A 
great  deal  of  his  experi- 
ence has  been  gained  in 
executive  positions  over 
groups  of  young  men. 
because  . . . his  education 
was  found  in  the  Wendell  Philips  High  School  of  Chicago  and 
Northwestern  University. 

because  ...  he  has  been  connected  with  the  body  military  in  both 
the  National  Guard  and  the  Regular  Army.  During  the  war  he 
relinquished  a captaincy  in  the  Illinois  N.  G.  to  enlist  as  a private 
for  overseas  service.  After  thirteen  months  he  returned  with  his 
silver  bars,  a First  Lieutenant. 

because  ...  in  spite  of  his  modesty,  he  can  spin  some  keen  yarns; 
yarns  seasoned  with  a sense  of  humor  that  belies  his  usually 
serious  mien. 

because  . . . there  is  nothing  one-sided  about  his  character.  Be- 
sides being  a Mason,  a Sojourner,  and  a member  of  the  53rd 
Division  Association  of  Illinois,  he  plays  golf  and  bowls. 
because  . . . after  only  a few  months’  association  with  us  he  is  con- 
firmed in  the  belief  that  NBC  holds  great  possibilities  for  anyone 
who  applies  himself. 

We  give  you  Charles  H.  Thurman,  on  the  job. 

CALL  LETTERS 

( Continued  from  Page  1 ) 

Hotel.  During  those  same  fleeting  twenty  seconds  between  the 
Rudy  Vallee  Program  and  the  Maxwell  House  Show  Boat,  the 
announcer  in  Miami,  Florida,  said  into  his  microphone,  "WIOD, 
Miami,  Florida,  Island  of  Dreams”.  Boston  listeners  heard, 
"WEEI,  Boston”.  EEI  standing  for  the  station’s  owner.  The  Edison 
Electric  Illuminating  Company. 

In  some  cases  the  call  letters  of  a station  are  abbreviations  or 
initials  of  their  city  and  state,  for  example:  WSYR,  Syr-acuse; 
WBAL,  BaZ-timore;  WRVA,  Richmond,  Va.;  WCSC,  Charleston, 
S.  C.;  and  WFLA,  Tampa,  Fla. 

WREN  in  Lawrence,  Kansas,  was  named  after  its  owner,  Jerry 
Wren.  The  last  three  letters  in  WPTF  stand  for.  Protect  the 
Family— the  slogan  of  the  Durham  Life  Association  in  Raleigh. 
N.  C.  KSD  stands  for  the  St.  Louis  Post-Dispatch,  and  WRC 
in  Washington.  D.  C.  stands  for  the  Radio  Corporation  of 
America. 

Through  various  devious  channels  we  have  heard  that  a certain 
sentimental  station  owner  has  called  his  station  after  his  sweet- 
heart, that  is,  he  has  used  the  initials  of  her  name  for  the  call 
letters  of  his  station.  As  we  go  to  press  our  sleuths  are  still  trying 
to  authenticate  the  story. 

The  call  letters  W and  K were  allocated  to  the  United  States 
by  the  International  Radio  Convention  which  meets  in  a European 
capital  every  two  or  three  years.  The  Federal  Communications 
Commission  has  assigned  K to  all  the  stations  west  of  the  Missis- 
sippi and  W to  those  ea.st  of  the  Mississippi.  There  are  two  excep- 
tions to  this  rule,  KDKA  in  Pittsburgh  and  KYW  in  Philadelphia; 
these  stations  were  exempted  from  the  rule  because  their  call 
letters  were  used  before  the  rqling  of  the  FCC  went  into  effect. 


William  Haussler  NBC  Studio 


VOL.  2 


NO.  7 


NBC 


Coulson  S.  Squires 

NBr  SCRIBE  WELBOURNE  KELLEY 

...  he  wrote  ”So  Fair  a House"  from  the 
male  point  of  view. 

■ It  was  after  three  years  of  careful 
analysis  that  Newspaperman  Kelley  set 
out  to  write  "So  Fair  a House.”  The 
theme  concerns  divorce,  but  with  a sur- 
prise angle.  The  author— NBC  publicity 
writer  during  business  hours— has  written 
his  book  from  the  masculine  viewpoint, 
a method  which  has  been  emphatically 
ignored  by  his  contemporaries. 

The  setting  of  the  novel  is  the  South; 
it  is  a careful  appraisal  of  the  transition 
of  the  modern  South  from  the  agricultural 
to  the  industrial  standard.  The  very  fact 
that  this  important  note  is  intermixed 
with  the  theme  rather  than  dominantly 
stressed  proves  the  painstaking  desire  for 
a worthy  novel. 

Mr.  Kelley’s  first  book,  "Inchin’  Along,” 
created  a stir;  his  second  has  shown  the 
interest  he  has  aroused  with  his  first  to 
be  justified,  and  it  may  be  said  that 
his  admirers  are  eagerly  looking  forward 
to  the  publication  of  his  third  book,  which 
will  deal  with  Southerners  in  New  York. 


Sound  Effects  and  Sales 
Promotion  Classes  Begun 

■ The  brand  new  Sound  Effects  class 
with  an  enrollment  of  17  met  at  3 P.M. 
in  Ray  Kelly’s  office  on  July  21  for  an 
hour’s  lecture.  The  meeting  is  to  be  a 
weekly  feature,  and  one  at  a time,  each 
man  in  the  class  will  stand  by  with  a 
sound  effects  technician  on  a program  to 
get  practical  experience. 

At  the  same  time  a class  of  appren- 
tices for  Sales  Promotion  and  Advertis- 
ing experience  has  been  organized,  with 
an  eye  to  developing  future  departmental 
(Continued  bottom  column  3) 


TBANSMITTER 

AUGUST.  1956 

flaskcs’ 


The  special  Daily  Guide  Information 
sheet,  edited  by  Guide  Bob  Meachem,  has 
proven  so  useful  to  guides,  both  old  and 
new,  that  Bob’s  recent  illness  created  a 
mild  storm  of  enquiries  which  nearly  dis- 
rupted the  Guide  Supervisor’s  peace  of 
mind. 

r 1 -t 

G.  Dom  Davis,  of  Guest  Relations,  has 
contributed  a story  to  Radio  Stars  maga- 
zine which  has  been  accepted  for  publica- 
tion in  either  the  September  or  October 
issue.  The  story  title  is  "2000  Miles 
Through  Radio  City,”  and  it  is  written 
from  an  NBC  guide’s  experience  with  the 
many  famous  personalities  who  have  been 
special  guests  of  NBC  from  time  to  time. 
Dom  reports  that  the  proceeds  he  received 
from  the  article  were  used  to  give  a fare- 
well party  to  his  tonsils. 

/ / y 

Lewis  Julian,  ex-NBC  guide  and  pres- 
ent male  soloist  for  Russ  Morgan’s  Bilt- 
more  Hotel  orchestra,  continues  his  climb 
to  recognition  with  a solo  spot  each  Mon- 
day from  3 to  3:30  P.M.  on  the  Man- 
hatters  program  (Jerry  Sears  Orchestra), 
being  fed  to  the  Blue  Network  out  of 
NBC,  New  York.  Listen  for  his  theme 
song.  "Stars  and  Soft  Guitars.” 

r i 1 

NBC  Guided  Tour  Sales  Promoter  Jerry 
Martin  states  that  our  tour  business  is 
17,000  paid  guests  ahead  of  last  year  as 
of  July  15. 

1 1 r 

A new  type  of  air  inlet  resembling  a 
P.A.  loudspeaker  turned  upright  with  nar- 
row end  up,  has  been  installed  in  the 
Transcription  Room  (559).  It  is  three 
feet  in  diameter  and  is  composed  of  four 
levels  of  sprouting  fins. 

i i i 

We  understand  plans  are  being  consid- 
ered for  the  formation  of  an  NBC  Camera 
Club.  We’ve  often  wondered  why  good 
ideas  like  this  one  die  an  early  death  when 
there  is  such  an  enthusiastic  following 
in  our  company  for  such  a unit. 

Ill 

Five  members  of  the  Guest  Relations 
staff  have  been  stricken  by  appendicitis 
( Continued  on  page  two) 


Maurice  Seymour 

EX-NBC  CHICAGO  HOSTESS 
MARY  FRANKE  LEMMON 

. . . she  made  good. 

■ Miss  Lemmon,  vivacious,  ambitious, 
one-time  Northwestern  University  co-ed, 
became  an  NBC  Chicago  hostess  two  years 
ago,  but  wanted  a job  inside  the  studios— 
acting.  When  the  chance  came  in  April, 
she  made  good;  now  she’s  heard  on  the 
Orphan  Annie  Program. 


If  You  Need  a Loan 

■ NBC  has  made  special  arrangements 
with  the  National  City  Bank  of  New  York 
whereby  you  can  now  borrow  money  to 
meet  emergencies.  Under  the  Personal 
Credit  Plan,  NBC  employes  may  apply 
for  loans  of  from  fifty  ($50.00)  dollars 
upward  depending  iipon  their  salary  and 
the  purpose  of  the  loan.  Under  this  spe- 
cial arrangement  no  co-makers  or  collat- 
eral will  be  required,  although  if  mar- 
ried, the  borrower’s  wife  or  husband  may 
also  be  required  to  sign  the  note  cover- 
ing the  loan.  Interest  at  the  rate  of  4%  a 
year  will  be  deducted  in  advance  from  the 
amount  of  the  loan. 

Modernization  loans  for  property  im- 
provement under  the  National  Housing 
Act  may  also  be  applied  for  under  this 
arrangement. 

The  bank’s  general  requirements  are 
that  a borrower  shall  be  at  least  twenty- 
one  years  of  age  and  shall  have  been  in 
the  employ  of  the  company  at  least  six 
months  at  the  time  of  making  application 
for  the  loan. 


material  and  to  familiarize  beginners 
with  the  mechanics  of  Sales  Promotion. 
Each  man  will  be  allowed  the  best  part  of 
a day  under  the  supervision  of  depart- 
ment heads  in  the  Promotion  office  to 
study  the  department’s  function  and  its 
duties. 


2 


NBC  TRANSMITTER 


NBC  TRANSMITTER 

VoL.  2 AUGUST,  1936  No.  7 


Editor— VrAnV  C.  Lepore 
Assistant  Editor— Ary  R.  Moll 
Circulation— Waher  A.  Wiebel 
Staff  Artist— Couhon  S.  Squires 
Associates— D.  Caldwell  Davis,  Alwin  D. 
Foster,  Bill  Garden,  Francis  J.  Fradella, 
Don  Gardiner. 

Contributors— Doris  Ruuth,  Robert  Mea- 
chem,  George  Hayes,  David  Gaines. 


Address  all  correspondence  to 
NBC  TRANSMITTER 
Room  297  Phone;  Circle  7-8300,  Ext.  220 


NEWS  FLASHES 

{ Continued  from  page  one) 

in  the  past  several  months,  necessitating 
operations  in  all  cases.  Those  aflSicted 
were:  Alwin  Foster,  Richard  Diament, 
Richard  B.  Berrien,  George  E.  Andrews, 
and  James  von  Frank.  However,  there 
were  no  complications. 

t * f 

Bill  Paisley,  he  of  the  Music  Rights 
division,  has  been  made  a non-participat- 
ing member  of  the  ASCAP.  To  become  a 
member  one  must  have  had  five  regularly 
published  songs.  Bill  has  written  eight 
all  told,  the  latest  of  which  seems  to  be 
slated  for  going  places.  Its  title  is  "I 
Sing,”  published  by  Irving  Berlin,  and  it 
was  first  introduced  by  Cities  Service’s 
star  bass-baritone,  Ross  Graham,  on  the 
Arkansas  Centennial  program,  which  Bill 
supervised.  A non-participating  member 
does  not  receive  fees  for  his  published 
works  and  does  not  become  an  active 
member  until  the  board  so  decides. 

i i r 

Ted  Sisson  of  Production  has  resigned 
to  accept  a similar  position  with  Lord 
& Thomas,  advertising  agency,  in  the  radio 
production  division,  headed  by  Thomas 
McAvity. 


William  Haussler  NBC  Studio 


SCRIPT  WRITER  EUGENE  S.  HALEY 
...  he  also  won  a promotion. 

■ If  you  had  WJZ  tuned  in  at  8 P.M.  on 
July  14,  you  were  listening  to  the  presen- 
tation of  Gene  Haley’s  first  half-hour 
radio  sketch  entitled  "The  Fall  of  the 
Bastille,”  which  was  written  in  commemo- 
ration of  Bastille  Day,  the  French  Fourth 
of  July. 

Gene,  who  has  been  with  NBC  only 
three  months,  has  in  that  time  written 
verse  for  our  own  NBC  TRANSMITTER, 
authored  an  accepted  radio  script,  and 
won  a promotion  to  the  Press  dept.,  re- 
placing Charles  Van  Bergen,  who,  in  turn, 
replaced  Margaret  Sullivan  (Photo  sec- 
tion), transferred  to  WGY,  Schnectady, 
as  secretary  to  Walter  Duncan,  formerly 
of  N.  Y.  Sales  Division,  NBC. 


NEWS  FLASHES 

(Continued  from  previous'column) 

by  July  25th  stated  Western  Division  En- 
gineer A.  H.  Saxton. 


Ill 

The  British  Broadcasting  Corporation 
has  made  known  its  intention  of  establish- 
ing a training  college  for  coaching  new 
employes  in  radio’s  complexities. 


Chatter 

■ Well,  midsummer’s  with  us  now  and 
Ole  Sol  has  tanned  NBC  a healthy  brown. 
We  hear  Announcer  Alan  Kent  gets  his 
sun  with  frequent  morning  gymnastics 
atop  the  West  Side  YMCA  roof,  while 
Guide  Leon  Leak  hovers  nearby  murmur- 
ing deprecatingly  that  it  doesn’t  equal 
his  deah  old  Alabama! 

. . . Larry  Mason’s  looking  for  a nice 
air  conditioning  plant  to  install  by  his 
desk  in  the  Mail  Room  . . . Virginia  Blach- 
ly  tells  her  boss,  Gordon  H.  Mills,  that 
she’s  having  a difficult  time  getting  Guest 
Relationist’s  to  go  home,  now  that  it’s 
cooler  inside  than  out  . . . 

. . . Prettiest  still  of  the  month:  Harry 
Saz’s  missus  and  youngster  in  the  Main 
Hall  waiting  for  him  to  finish  his  day’s 
work  in  Sound  Effects. 

. . . Tony  Colucci,  NBC  Guitarist,  has 
opened  an  Italian-American  Restaurant 
on  West  51st  Street,  complete  with  piz- 
zeria ’n  everything  ...  If  you  follow  the 
"NBC  Headquarters”  sign  posted  at  Long 
Beach,  by  fellow  announcers,  you’ll  wind 
up  at  Gene  Hamilton’s  cottage,  probably 
jammed  full  of  NBCites  having  a marvel- 
ous time. 

. . . Main  Hall  Starter  McDonough  took 
his  last  ride  as  a bachelor  during  his 
vacation  . . . and  in  case  you’ve  missed 
it,  Francis  Healy  of  Press  wed  Elizabeth 
Palmer  and  spent  his  two  weeks’  vaca- 
tion with  his  bride  in  Havana  . . . Helen 
Winter  of  Treasurer’s  still  looks  brown 
and  gorgeous  from  that  vacation  visit  to 
Haiti,  Panama  and  points  west. 

. .'  . The  office  pages  agree  with  us  that 
Press  Walt  Moore’s  suggestion  to  higher- 
ups  to  allow  pages  to  discard  their  jackets 
for  the  summer  is  the  most  sensible  one 
this  month. 

. . . Sales  Promoter  E.  P.  H.  James’s 
secretary,  Mary  Coyne,  bemoans  the  loss 
of  a wisdom  tooth,  so  if  you  have  an  extra 
one,  send  it  along  to  your  . . . 

CHATTERER. 


Vice-President  Frank  Russell  was  re- 
elected a director  of  the  National  As- 
sociation of  Broadcasters  for  two  more 
years  at  the  NAB’s  Fourteenth  Annual 
Convention  held  in  the  Stevens  Hotel, 
Chicago,  from  July  6th  through  to  the  8th 
of  July. 

r i i 

NBC  San  Francisco’s  studios  are  being 
remodeled.  All  old  technical  equipment  is 
being  replaced  by  new  ribbon  velocity 
mikes,  the  latest  type  of  amplifiers,  a 
master  control  desk  similar  to  NBC  New 
York’s,  and  a most  up-to-the-minute  mo- 
bile transmitter.  Studios  will  be  ready 
( Continued  on  next  column) 


Ed  Ludes,  San  Francisco  NBC  An- 
nouncer, is  still  a hero  to  those  who  know 
him.  For  it  was  only  recently  during  an 
important  rehearsal  that  a ferociously 
joyous  bridegroom-to-be  broke  into  the 
studio  and  demanded  that  he  be  allowed 
to  announce  his  impending  marriage  over 
a coast-to-coast  hook-up.  When  the  young 
man  started  to  back  up  his  demand  by 
trying  to  slash  people  with  a knife,  Ludes, 
figuring  that  things  had  gone  far  enough, 
simply  stepped  in,  drove  a hard  right  to 
future  hubby’s  jaw,  and  then  sat  on  the 
intruder’s  unconscious  form  until  the  po- 
lice arrived  to  carry  off  the  disturber  to  a 
detention  hospital  for  observation. 


Guide  von  Roth:  "Now,  folks,  we  go  from 
the  sublime  to  the  ridiculous.  From  strings 
to  swing.” 


AUGUST,  1936 


3 


Vacation  News 

■ Waltz  Time  and  Firestone  Concert  An- 
nouncer Howard  Claney  sailed  July  16 
for  Paris,  Geneva  and  Berlin,  to  relax,  to 
study  European  mike-technique,  and  to 
paint. 

Diction  Medal  Winner  Alois  Havrilla 
left  his  birthplace  in  Czechoslavakia  at 
the  age  of  four;  he  set  out  on  July  22 
to  revisit  the  old  country  for  the  first  time. 

Magic  Key  of  RCAnnouncer  Milton  J. 
Cross  is  looking  forward  to  bathing,  bi- 
cycling, and  buggy  riding  in  Bermuda; 
he  will  sail  August  12. 

To  Long  Island  for  a week,  starting 
July  18,  and  then  home  to  Mt.  Carmel, 
Pa.,  until  August  3,  is  the  vacation  plan 
of  Music  Librarian  Harry  F.  Wichtman. 

Night  Announcer  Head  Ray  Diaz  head- 
ed back  home  to  Forrest  Lake,  N.  H.,  on 
July  15  for  a two-week  stay. 


William  Haussler  NBC  Studio 


DAVE  ROBERTS  and  LEON  LEAK 
. . . Nos.  2 and  3 from  the  left. 

Apprentice  Announcers  David  Roberts 
and  Leon  Leak  had  an  opportunity  to 
prove  their  versatility  on  Wednesday, 
July  8,  when  they  accepted  invitations  to 
play  the  parts  of  James  Borst,  NBC  guide 
and  Clyde  Johnson,  Observation  Roof 
Host,  respectively,  on  the  O’Neill’s  pro- 
gram, Jane  West’s  15-minute  daily  sketch 
for  Ivory  Soap  on  the  Red  network. 

Amateur  Gardener  Pat  Kelly,  other- 
wise supervisor  of  NBC  announcing  ac- 
tivities, gardened  for  two  weeks  around 
his  Hempstead,  L.  L,  home,  the  first  part 
of  July  ...  he  got  in  some  good  fishing, 
too. 

Editor  Ed  Curtin  took  up  duties  about 
July  3 as  a Plattsburg  2nd  Lieutenant 
for  two  weeks,  following  which  he  re- 


Head  NBC  Statistician  H.  M.  Seville 
ON  Duty  with  CMTC  at  Plattsburg 
"Left . . . Dress!”  . . . and  they  obeyed. 


My  Hobby  Is— 

■ Arthur  J.  Daly,  Production— painting; 
finishing  sketches  started  on  last  Cape 
Cod  visit;  has  three  canvases  now  on  ex- 
hibition at  Art  Students  League.  Morrlt 
Hamilton,  Music  Supervision  — writing 
popular  music;  wife  writes  lyrics;  How- 
ard Wiloy,  Production— collecting  postage 
stamps  significant  of  great  musical  events 
or  personalities;  has  a series  of  eleven 
German  stamps  each  representing  a scene 
from  a Wagnerian  opera.  Mao  E.  Katx, 
Statistical— collecting  odd  shaped  bottles. 
Adam  J.  Yung,  Statistical— specializes  in 
life  saving.  Harry  Sax,  Sound  Effects— has 
a whole  room  full  of  porcelain  figures. 

J.  do  Jara  Almonto,  Executive— signa- 
tures of  studio  visitors;  now  starting  on 
the  third  volume  included  are  Charles  A. 
Lindbergh,  King  of  Siam.  Phoobo  Mink, 
Press— saving  theater  programs;  earliest 
is  Maude  Adams  in  "Peter  Pan.”  Jamo* 
Church,  Production— etchings;  started  col- 
lection sixteen  years  ago.  Boss!#  Foagin, 
Press— finding  old  books;  recently  found 
one,  "Morals  and  Conduct  for  Children.” 
in  Athens,  Georgia.  Richard  G.  Spancor, 
Press— photography ; has  won  many  ama- 
teur competitions. 


laxed  in  Bermuda  until  the  end  of  the 
month. 

Continuity  Writer  Jim  Costello  spent 
time  during  his  July  4 to  21  vacation 
outlining  a play  for  the  Theater  Guild 
Play  Contest. 


Frank  Murtha  of  Artists  Service  and 
Trafficman  Joe  Sauer  returned  the  24th 
after  14  days  in  the  Catskills. 

Out  - of  - Doorsman  and  Studio  Setup 
Chief  Tom  Loncmore  is  doing  some  plain 
and  fancy  farming  at  Laconia,  N.  H.,  un- 
til August  3. 

Dispatcher  Bud  Faillace  of  Guide  Ser- 
vice enjoyed  the  tennis,  golf,  swimming, 
horseback  riding,  and  so  forth  at  South- 
ampton from  July  10  to  21. 

Leaving  his  post  in  Guest  Relations 
about  the  8th  for  two  weeks,  Walt  Davi- 
son spent  some  time  in  Hightstown,  N.  J. 

Merchandising  Dept.’s  B.  Jean  Smith 
entrained  July  9 for  a fourteen-day  jaunt 
of  Cleveland,  Dayton  and  the  Great  Lakes 
Exposition. 

Oldtimer  and  member  of  the  Service 
Staff  Dominic  Caracciolo  (11  years  in 
NBC  service)  is  on  vacation  at  Long 
Beach,  L.  L,  until  August  3. 


BILL  FAIRBANKS  (left)  and 
MARVIN  RAE  (right) 

. . . cavalrymen  and  coffee. 


Troop  A enrollment  of  NYNGuard’s 
101st  Cavalry  Division  included  Statistical 
Wm.  F.  Fairbanks  and  Merchandising 
Marvin  D.  Rae,  Jr.,  from  June  13  to  29 
(see  above  photo). 

Conductor-of-German-tours  Guide  Herb 
Gross,  while  vacationing  in  Clayton,  N. 
Y.,  met  a man  there  who  swore  he  had 
been  on  one  of  Herb’s  better  studio  tours; 
Gross  had  no  recollection  of  this  par- 
ticular event,  but  the  man  did  . . . and 
that’s  what  counted! 

No  lazy  life  will  be  Setup  Staffman 
John  Hancock’s  vacation— he  sailed  July 
18  on  the  S.  S.  Gulf  Wax  headed  for 
Venezuela  as  a member  of  the  crew! 


MUSICAL  CARICATURES  BY  A WORD  ARTIST 


4 


NBC  TRANSMITTER,  AUGUST,  1936 


STAMP  CLUB  NOTES 


■ Among  recent  contributions  to  the  NBC 
Stamp  Club’s  collection  is  an  unusually 
interesting  and  valuable  item  presented 
by  Alfred  F.  Lichtenstein,  one  of  the  fore- 
most philatelists  in  the  world.  It  is  the 
"forerunner  of  the  postage  stamp,”  the 
"Mulready”  envelope  (pictured  above), 
companion  pieces  to  the  first  postage 
stamp  presented  by  Theodore  Steinway. 

Long  before  postage  stamps  came  into 
existence  in  1840,  Great  Britain  main- 
tained a postal  service  in  which  the  reci- 
pient paid  delivery  charges.  So  frequently 
were  persons  obliged  to  pay  postage  on 
letters  not  worth  the  price  that  in  time 
the  accumulation  of  refused  and  unde- 
livered letters  became  a serious  problem. 
A man  by  the  name  of  William  Mulready 
conceived  the  idea  of  the  sender  paying 
the  postage. 

He  designed  an  envelope  for  Post  Of- 
fices throughout  the  British  Empire  to  sell 
for  this  purpose.  These  were  designed  in 
One  Penny  and  Two  Pence  denomina- 
tions. The  idea  was  accepted  by  the 
British  postal  authorities.  While  these 
were  being  prepaid  for  sale,  Mulready 
also  conceived  the  idea  of  separate  adhe- 
sives to  be  sold  where  the  postage  rates 
were  greater  than  Two  Pence. 

His  design  for  such  an  adhesive  was 
also  accepted  and  it  was  issued  concur- 
rently with  the  Mulready  envelopes  on 
May  6,  1840.  And  thus  the  present  system 
of  international  postal  service  came  into 
existence.  Though  the  first  stamp  and 
the  first  postal  envelopes  made  their  ap- 
pearance on  the  same  day,  the  envelopes 
were  the  forerunner  of  the  postage  stamp 
in  conception.  Both  this  first  stamp  and 
these  first  envelopes  have  been  given  to 
the  NBC  Stamp  Club  and  will  be  included 
in  the  collection  which  will  be  placed 
on  permanent  display  in  our  Studio  Sec- 
tion in  the  near  future. 

Among  other  recent  acquisitions  has 
been  a set  of  Austria’s  "Great  Composers.” 
presented  by  Dr.  Frank  Black. 


• Our  heartfelt  regrets  are  extended  to 
Enid  Beaupre  (Sales  Promotion)  upon 
receipt  of  news  that  her  father  passed 
away  on  July  14. 


■ Dick  Anderson  (Press)  took  a day 
off  to  recuperate  from  the  ordeal  he 
went  through  in  becoming  the  happy 
father  of  a 5-lb.  12-oz.  baby  girl  on 
July  14. 

■ Don  Goddard,  formerly  of  the  World- 
Telegram,  has  replaced  Bob  Carley,  re- 
signed, at  the  Esso  News  desk  in  our 
Press  Dept. 


STATIC 

Hello,  again!  ! 

This  is  Static!  remember?  They  didn’t 
need  any  filler  last  edition,  so  they  lined 
the  drawer  with  me.  But  the  voice  of  the 
people  cried  out  in  protest.  The  editor 
certainly  rued  the  day  he  left  me  out. 
He  was  the  recipient  of  scorching  letters 
of  disapproval  from  my  following  of 
readers,  hoth  of  ’em.  Thank  you.  Mother 
and  DadJ  Thank  you!  Sic  Semper  Ty- 
rannis! 

i 1 i 

Lo,  the  Poor  Guide! 

Two  rather  hard  looking  members  of 
the  so-called  weaker  sex  snuggled  up  to 
Guide  Roger  von  Roth  at  the  conclusion 
of  a Radio  City  NBC  Tour,  and  rasped: 
"Say,  Snowshoes,  how  about  a couple  of 
passes  to  a broadcast?” 


Ill 

Prayer  of  the  Constant  Phone  User— 
I’d  like  to  break  the  bones 
Of  those  who  slam  their  phones. 


y 


We’ve  heard  it— so  help  me! 

A lady  asked  Charles  Whalen  if  it  was 
necessary  to  walk  up  to  the  Observation 
roof.  And  ihen  there  was  the  man  who 
wanted  to  know  the  list  price  of  tour 
tickets. 

Ill 

The  Day’s  Haze! 

They  tell  of  the  new  page  who  was 
sent  to  Sound  Effects  to  get  a yard  of 
blue  network  and  a nemo  switch. 

/ r »■ 

Oh  yes!  And  just  to  while  away  the 
time  try  this.  It’s  a new  language.  After 
each  vowel  put  an  I and  an  /.  Then  repeat 
the  vowels. 

Like  This: 

How  are  you  today’  Holfow  alfare 
youlfou  tolfodalfay.  Come  in  handy  for 
making  love  on  a bus.  If  you  don’t  under- 
stand it,  don’t  worry;  neither  do  I.  . . . 
No  pig  latin— no  love  on  a bus! 

That’s  All! 


LET  US  GET  A 

C 

Q 
U 
A 
I 

N 
T 
E 
D 

B YOU  ought  to  know  Lester  F.  Miles,  of 
the  NBC  Studio  Engineers. 
because  ...  he  edits  the  magazine  A.T.E., 
a journal  by,  for  and  in  the  interests  of 
broadcast  engineers.  This  is  not  the  first 
of  his  journalistic  endeavors.  Thirty-six 
of  his  articles  of  both  a technical  and  non- 
technical nature  have  appeared  in  print 
during  the  past  five  years. 

because  ...  as  an  engineer,  he  draws 
upon  a world  of  experience.  He  has  han- 
dled "gain”  in  a half-dozen  stations  up 
and  down  the  coast. 

because  ...  his  story  reads  like  a travel- 
log.  Australia  is  the  only  continent  which 
he  has  yet  to  visit.  During  the  period  be- 
tween 1920  and  1926,  he  averaged  fifty 
thousand  miles  of  travel  a year. 

because  . . . the  few  spare  hours  which 
are  left  when  he  is  done  with  his  duties 
on  the  magazine,  are  taken  up  with  boat- 
ing. 

because  ...  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  fifteen 
he  was  chasing  rum  runners  as  a member 
of  the  crew  of  the  Coast  Guard  Cutter, 
Manhattan. 

because  ...  at  the  WHP  transmitter  in 
Harrisburg,  Pa.,  he  was  bolted  by  five 
thousand  volts  and  he  is  still  taming  the 
ergs,  joules  and  amperes  . . . 

We  give  you  Lester  F.  Miles  . . . "w-o-o-f.” 


■ Much  confetti  and  a big  electric  roaster 
were  showered  on  Mary  Jane  Grand- 
staff  (Transcribing),  by  her  friends  in 
Statistical,  Tabulating,  and  Mimeograph- 
ing, upon  receipt  of  news  that  Mary  Jane 
would  become  Mrs.  Bob  Kriebel  (non- 
NBC)  on  Saturday,  July  18,  1936. 

■ Marjorie  Geddes  (Audience  Mail) 
becomes  the  bride  of  Albert  Knievel  on 
September  5.  Marjorie  was  given  a miscel- 
laneous shower  by  her  many  friends  in 
the  Mail  Dept.,  as  a fitting  send-off. 

■ Production’s  Howard  Wiley  has  be- 
come the  proud  father  of  a bouncing  baby 
boy. 


NBC  TRANSMITTER 


VOL.  2 


SEPTEMBER,  1956 


NO.  8 


® A new  program  filled  the  ether  waves 
of  South  America  on  Wednesday,  July 
22,  when  Dan  Russell,  NBC  announcer 
and  outstanding  linguist,  inaugurated  a 
new  series  of  tri-weekly  broadcasts  in- 
tended to  promote  international  goodwill 
among  the  countries  of  the  Western  Hemi- 
sphere. The  programs  are  short-waved  via 
W3XAL,  every  Monday,  Wednesday  and 
Saturday  nights  from  8:00  to  8:15  P.M., 
New  York  Time. 

Russell,  who  is  known  for  his  linguis- 
tic ability,  having  a fluent  knowledge 
of  eight  languages,  conducts  the  program 
entirely  in  Spanish  under  the  title— "El 
Pan  Americano.”  a name  known  to  South 
American  audiences  from  previous  ex- 
change programs. 

Acting  as  producer,  writer,  critic  and 
master  of  ceremonies,  Russell  presents  a 
mixed  picture  of  the  American  scene- 
news  chats,  music  of  both  North  and  South 
America,  distinguished  guests  including 
well  known  Spanish-American  artists  fa- 
miliar to  the  people  of  the  southern  coun- 
tries, and  many  other  novelties. 


THE  WINNAH! 

Edythe  De  Takacs,  Artists  Service’s 
keen  assistant  Sales  Promotion  Man- 
ager, walks  off  with  the  September 
TRANSMITTER’S  first  prize  for  the 
best  cartoon  idea  of  the  month.  The 
idea  will  be  used  in  the  October  edi- 
tion of  Mr.  Okeedokee’s  adventures. 
The  award,  a pass  for  two  to  the  Radio 
City  Music  Hall,  will  admit  the  win- 
nah  to  "Swing  Time”',  RKO’s  latest 
Fred  Astaire-Ginger  Rogers  song  and 
dance  extravaganza  which  premiered 
Thursday,  August  27. 

How  about  more  of  you  TRANS- 
MITTER readers  grabbing  off  a few 
passes  for  yourselves  by  thinking  up 
some  clever  situations  for  Mr.  Okee- 
dokee.  Send  them  along  to  us— Room 
297. 


Red  and  Blue 

This  is  a Red  (Blue)  Network  Pro- 
gram of  the  National  Broadcasting  Com- 
pany, RCA  Building,  Radio  City,  New 
York,”  replaces  the  familiar,  "This  is  the 
National  Broadcasting  Company,  RCA 
Building,  Radio  City,  New  York,”  as  the 
official  identification  line  on  all  NBC  pro- 
grams f6r  a definite  reason. 

Recognition 

"Pat"  Kelly  tells  us  that  all  announcers 
have  been  permitted  to  renew  their  former 
practice  of  giving  their  names  over  the 
air  on  all  one-hour  sustaining  programs 
effective  since  last.  August  10.  However, 
this  rule  does  not  apply  to  short  sustain- 
ing shows  nor  to  one-hour  sustainings 
where  the  announcer  does  not  act  as 
master  of  ceremonies  as  well. 

No.  1 Gladiolist 

Champion  Gladioli  Raiser  Fred  H. 
Young,  Jr.  (Music  Supervision),  practi- 
cally ran  off  with  all  the  honors  in  the 
Sweepstakes  Section  for  Amateurs  at  the 
Seventh  Annual  Show  of  the  Metropolitan 
Gladiolus  Society,  held  in  Horticultural 
Hall,  Radio  City,  last  month.  Out  of  twen- 
ty-four spikes  he  exhibited.  Young  took 
( Continue'i'-on  page  two ) 

New  Uniforms 
Explained 

■ First,  a member  of 
the  Set-up  Staff  stands 
ready  to  handle  studio' 
equipment.  Behind 
him,  in  dark  grey  suit 
with  silver  trimmings, 
is  a mail  messenger. 

A guide  is  next  in  line, 
while  behind  him  a 
special  officer  is 
dressed  almost  alike 
in  a blue,  double- 
breasted  coat  and 
white  flannel  pants 
(blue  trousers  for 
winter) . The  only  dif- 
ference in  these  last 
uniforms  are  the  cita- 
tion cords  — blue  for 
pages,  white  for 
guides,  and  gold  for 
officers. 


News  Section  Combines 
With  Special  Events 
Under  Program 

■ The  News  Section  of  the  Press  Depart- 
ment has  been  combined  with  the  Special 
Events  Section,  creating  the  News  and 
Special  Events  Division  of  the  Program 
Department.  A.  A.  Schechter  is  in  charge 
of  the  new  division. 

Previously  the  News  Section  handled 
all  news  for  broadcasting,  both  commer- 
cial and  sustaining,  and  will  continue  to 
do  so.  This  includes  the  regular  Press- 
Radio  periods,  plus  all  news  bulletins, 
and  the  six-days-a-week  Esso  series;  also 
supervision  of  commentators’  scripts,  such 
as  Lowell  Thomas,  Walter  Winchell,  etc. 

The  transfer  of  the  News  Section  to  the 
Program  Department  will  in  no  way  alter 
the  functions  of  the  Press  Department, 
except  that  Press  will  have  no  further  re- 
sponsibility for  news  to  go  on  the  air. 

Under  Construction 

WJZ's  new  640-foot  vertical  antenna  is 
now  under  construction  at  Bound  Brook, 
N.  J.  This  slender  steel  tower  will  sup- 
plant the  present  two-tower  system  and 
will  reach  twice  as  high  into  the  heavens. 
Meanwhile,  a petition  has  already  been 
placed  before  the  Federal  Communica- 
tions Commission  for  an  increase  in  power 
from  WJZ’s  present  50,000  watts  to  500,- 
000  watts.  If  approved,  this  power  boost 
will  increase  the  transmitter’s  coverage, 
clarify  its  signal,  and  greatly  reduce  fad- 
ing. 


2 


NBC  TRANSMITTER 


NBC  TBANSMITTER 

Vol.  2 SEPTEMBER.  1936  No.  8 

Editor — Frank  C.  Lepore 
Assistant  Editor— Ary  R.  Moll 
Circulation— aUer  A.  Wiebel 
Staff  Artist — CouUon  N.  Squires 

Associates— D.  Caldwell  Davis,  Alwin  D.  Foster,  Bill 
Carden,  Francis  J.  Fradella,  Don  Gardiner. 

Contributors— Waller  Moore,  Ruth  M.  Crawford,  Bud 
Holman,  Nord  Schonfeld,  Jack  Leonhaidt,  David 
Gaines,  Adam  Yung,  Frank  Crowley,  Mae  E.  Katz, 
James  Costello,  Doris  RuiUh,  Enid  Beaupre,  Anna 
M.  Reiss,  Bill  Fairbanks,  Anthony  Farino,  Grace 
Smith. 


Address  all  correspondence  to 
NBC  TRANSMITTER 
Room  297  Phone:  Circle  7-8300,  Ext.  220 


Be  Sure  to  Listen  to  These 
Special  Tenth  Anniversary 
Programs 

Features 

October  3:  8 to  9 P.M.  Red  and  Blue  Net- 
works — Special  Tenth  Anniversary 
program  composed  of  NBC’s  out- 
standing stars  and  orchestras  in  a 
salute  to  all  stations  of  the  network. 
All  NBC  stations. 

October  10:  8 to  9 P.M.  Red  and  Blue 
Special  dedicatory  program  to  NBC 
by  Glee  Clubs,  Orchestras,  Choirs 
and  Bands  of  leading  colleges  of  the 
United  States. 

October  17:  8 to  9 P.M.  Blue  Network 
only.  Special  feature  program  con- 
trasting radio  ten  years  ggo  with  to- 
day. Contrast  will  be  made  in  types 
of  singing,  drama,  orchestrations, 
and  music  popular  then  with  those  in 
vogue  today.  Original  equipment  also 
will  be  used  to  give  the  program  a 
genuine  touch. 

Sustaining 

September  28  to  October  2:  9 to  10 

A.M.  Daily.  Blue  Network.  Breakfast 
Club  will  broadcast  series  of  Tenth 
Anniversary  commemorative  pro- 
grams. 

October  5 to  9:  4 to  4:30  P.M.  Daily 
Monday  thru  Friday  Woman’s  Radio 
Review  will  air  its  own  group  of 
anniversary  shows  via  Red  network. 

October  19-25:  National  Farm  and  Home 
Hour  will  be  on  the  air  from  12:30  to 
1:30  P.M.  on  Blue  network  with  its 
special  list  of  daily  salutes  to  NBC’s 
tenth  birthday. 

October  23-31:  Streamliners,  will  cele- 
brate NBC’s  decade  of  progress.  Pro- 
gram may  be  heard  on  Red  network 
from  9:15  to  10  A.M.  daily  excepting 
Sunday. 


MELODIST  WATKINS 
B Bouquets  and  nary  a brick-bat  for 
Guest  Receptionist  George  Watkins  who 
appeared  from  the  Guest  Relations  Staff 
to  sing  his  way  to  first  place  on  the  Col. 
Stoopnagle  and  Budd  Amateur  Hour 
August  12th.  During  the  week  of  August 
17  George  proved  his  ability  by  perform- 
ing on  the  stage  at  the  Roxy  Theater  be- 
fore a critical  Broadway  audience  and 
received  enthusiastic  acclaim  for  his  good 
work. 


NEWS  FLASHES 

{ Continued  from  page  one) 
six  first  places,  five  seconds,  and  one  third. 
As  Fred  won  the  same  award— a silver 
medal,  last  year— he  has  been  in  the  lime- 
light for  two  consecutive  years.  Fred  tells 
us  we  haven’t  seen  anything  until  we  trek 
out  to  Preakness,  New  Jersey,  one  fine 
day  to  view  the  three  thousand  gladioli 
bulbs  he  now  has  under  cultivation.  He 
promised  this  correspondent  some  photos 
of  his  prize  winners  for  publication  in  a 
forthcoming  issue  of  the  Transmitter. 

Dramatist — Announcer 

Announcer  Frank  Cody  (nee  Frank 
Klode)  is  also  a playwright  in  his  own 
right.  "Fourth  Down,”  Frank’s  first  pro- 
fessionally produced  drama,  was  pre- 
sented by  the  Ferndale  Players  at  Fern- 
dale,  New  York,  during  the  week  of  Au- 
gust 17.  It  is  a gridiron  play  in  two  acts 
satirizing  the  life  of  a well-known  foot- 
ball player.  Frank  must  know  what  he’s 
writing  about,  since  his  football  knowl- 
edge was  acquired  in  the  hard  school  of 
experience.  In  1932  he  played  fullback 
on  "Doc”  Spears  famous  University  of 
Wisconsin  team. 

Sellout 

Purchasing’s  Tom  Lundon  informs  us 
that  the  demand  for  auto  discs  commemo- 
rating NBC’s  10th  Anniversary,  on  sale 
to  NBCites  for  the  quarter  part  of  one 
dollar,  has  already  exceeded  the  200- 
mark. 

(Continued  on  page  four) 


Chatter 

B Buz,  buz,  buz— didja  hear  we  have  an 
expert  mixer  of  drinks  in  our  Guest  Re- 
ceptionist George  Malcolm?  Get  him  to 
reminisce  sometime  on  how  he  charmed 
the  late  King  George,  the  Princess 
Marie  of  Rumania,  and  his  good  friend. 
Judge  Gary,  with  his  concoctions— it’s 
interesting  talk. 

Production  wants  us  to  know  that 
Howard  Wiley  is  not  the  only  recent 
father  . . . seems  that  Lester  Vail  has  had 
another  addition  to  his  family  lately. 

Prettiest  sight  of  the  Month:  Blonde 
Betty  Goodwin  tripping  up  to  Press 
wrapped  up  in  one  of  those  cellophane- 
looking rain  coats. 

Third  office  has  been  moved  around  a 
lot  lately  so  we  wonder  how  Treasurers’ 
Terwilliger  likes  his  new  office  . . . and 
how  Joyce  Harris  feels,  now  that  she  has 
plenty  of  elbow  room  in  here. 

Vice  President  and  Treasurer  David 
Rosenblum’s  appointment  of  Charles 
Wall  as  Assistant  to  the  Treasurer  brings 
to  mind  the  old  saying  "to  the  efficient  be- 
longs the  reward.” 

The  staff’s  new  uniforms  excited  plenty 
of  comment  and  you  can  add  a few  extra 
words  to  the  NBC  vocabulary  according 
to  Derek  Mortlock:  the  boys— "Ad- 
mirals”; tour  guests— "NBC  Flotillas”; 
Locker  Room— "the  Crow’s  Nest.” 

Don  Meissner,  back  after  a year’s  ab- 
sence, says  trouping  was  swell.  Drop  in 
sometime,  Don,  and  say  "hello”  to 

Chatterer.  . . . 


ERROR 

■ The  August  Transmitter  stated  that 
Tony  Colucci,  well-known  NBC  staff  gui- 
tarist, had  opened  a restaurant  on  West 
51  Street.  The  statement  turned  out  to  be 
incorrect.  Sorry,  Tony. 


Will  You  Write  To  Us 
— For  Us? 

If  we  merely  wanted  to  flatter  you, 
our  request  tor  your  cooperation  in 
the  furthering  of  the  "Transmitter” 
would  be  based  along  the  "this  is 
your  paper,  and  without  you  it  means 
nothing”  idea.  Instead,  we  appeal  to 
you  for  the  fair  criticism  and  judgment 
which  you  apply  to  your  position  here 
at  NBC  so  the  paper  may  have  the 
benefit  of  your  reaction. 

In  a company  such  as  ours,  there 
are  innumerable  items  of  interest 
which,  because  of  their  nearness  to 
some  vital  function  of  NBC,  belong  in 
print.  Distance,  instead  of  being  a 
detriment,  should  be  an  incentive  to 
facilitate  closer  cooperation  among 
NBCites. 

We  leave  the  matter  in  your  hands. 


SEPTEMBER,  1936 


3 


PROGRAM’S  BILL  CARD 
. . . Death  Takes  a Holiday 


MARRIAGES:  PAST  AND  PENDING 

• Perennial  Bachelor  Henry  T.  Hede 
(N.  Y.  Purchasing)  surrendered  his  in- 
dividual liberties  August  16  when  Hilda 
Spierling  promised  to  love  and  obey. 
After  a honeymoon  to  South  Atlantic 
waters,  they  will  make  their  home  at 
Woodcliff,  N.  J.  Mr.  Hede  has  been  with 
NBC  since  1927.  . . . Burke  Grotty  (N. 
Y.  Press  Photo  desk)  leaves  Friday,  Octo- 
ber 4,  for  a three-week  vacation-marriage- 
honeymoon  schedule,  from  which  he  will 
return  as  a member  of  the  team  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Burke  Crotty.  . . . Anthony 
Hennic  (N.  Y.  Treasurer’s  Dept.)  has  set 
October  5 as  the  tentative  date  from  which 
there  will  probably  be  no  turning  back. 

. . . Adele  De  Ette  Hoover,  NBC  San 
Francisco  Sales  Promotion  Dept.,  became 
the  wife  of  Attorney  Dana  Edwin  Bren- 
ner of  Santa  Rosa,  Calif.,  on  Au'gust  15 
in  Berkeley,  Calif.  . . . Stenographic’s 
Ethel  Suderberg  will  be  married  Sep- 
tember 12  to  Walker  Munroe  of  Nova 
Scotia,  at  her  home  in  New  York.  The 
couple  will  honeymoon  to  Nova  Scotia. 

. . . Frank  Breslin  (N.  Y.  Sales)  will 
neither  confirm  nor  deny  the  possibility 
of  his  taking  the  fatal  step  during  his 
vacation,  which  is  on  the  way  up. 

NEWCOMER 

■ Journalist  S.  M.  Robards,  formerly 
with  the  Louisville  Courier  and  Louisville 
Times  in  Louisville,  Ky.,  recently  joined 
the  writing  staff  of  our  N.  Y.  Press  Dept. 

SICK  LIST 

■ Guest  Relations  Manager  Gordon  H. 
Mills  returned  to  his  post  last  Monday 
after  having  his  vacation  interrupted  by 
illness,  which  confined  him  to  his  bed 
at  his  retreat  in  Rochester,  Vt.  . .- . Eve- 
lyn Castell,  secretary  to  Attorney  E. 
Gardiner  Prime,  was  stricken  with  ap- 
pendicitis several  weeks  back,  but  is  well 


on  the  road  to  recovery.  . . . Guest  Recep- 
tionist Berger  Hagerth  returned  to  his 
regular  duties  August  11.  after  a month 
spent  recuperating  from  water  on  the 
knee,  which  was  the  result  of  a self-in- 
flicted wound  made  by  a misguided  axe. 

VACATIONERS 

■ Vice  President  A.  L.  Ashby  has  taken 
a well-deserved  respite  from  business 
cares  with  his  destination  unknown.  His 
return  is  set  for  sometime  in  September. 
. . . Statistical’s  Virginia  R.  Beers  left 
August  15  for  San  Francisco,  Calif., 
where  she  will  visit  a brother  she  hasn’t 
seen  for  18  years.  She  returns  to  New 
York  September  2.  . . . Chief  Engineer  0. 
B.  Hanson  returned  August  31  from  a 
five  week’s  tour  of  the  major  broadcasting 
companies  in  England,  Holland,  and  Ger- 
many, after  studying  their  operating  tech- 
nique and  engineering  systems.  . . . Head 
Nurse  Mable  W.  Phelps  left  August  28 


TRAVELER  HOWARD  CLANEY 
. . . Note  foliage  above  upper  lip 


for  her  yearly  visit  to  her  home  in  To- 
ronto, Canada.  She  expects  to  visit  the 
Toronto  Annual  Exhibition  and  Niagara 
Falls,  particularly  the  latter,  since  she 
was  born  only  ten  miles  from  this  world 
famous  cataract.  . . . Mariner  Will  an  C. 
Roux  returned  to  his  advertising  duties 
last  Monday  after  spending  most  of  two 
weeks  sailing  in  Maine’s  beautiful  Casco 
Bay  region.  Mrs.  Roux  and  the  two  chil- 
dren, Jack,  5 years,  and  Suzanne,  9 mos., 
accompanied  him.  . . . Mr.  and  Mrs. 
David  B.  Van  Houten  with  sons,  Dick, 
10,  and  Gene,  7,  spent  vacation  time 
(August  8 to  24)  at  Guilford  Lake,  Che- 
mango  County,  N.  Y.,  in  enjoying  the 
pleasures  of  riding,  fishing  and  resting. 
. . . Personnel’s  George  M.  Nelson  de- 
clares himself  set  to  leave  by  auto  Sep- 
tember 12  for  the  Texas  Centennial  Expo- 
sition and  Mexico  City.  If  not  Texas,  it 
will  be  the  Cleveland  Centennial.  And  for 
a third  choice,  if  the  two  aforementioned 


fail  to  materialize,  there  will  always  be 
the  trek  to  Canada  for  a visit  to  the 
famous  Dionne  quins.  . . . Ace  Photogra- 
pher William  Haussler  announces  an 
interesting  holiday  which  began  August 
27.  Bill  and  the  Missus  will  journey  to 
far  off  California  for  a visit  to  places 
in  Hollywood,  Los  Angeles,  and  Coast  in 
general.  While  in  Hollywood,  the  Hauss- 
LERS  will  visit  the  RKO  and  MGM  movie 
lots  to  observe  the  technique  of  motion 
picture  making.  . . . Maintenance  Super- 
visor Walter  Hawes  headed  for  Darien, 
Conn.,  August  15  to  be  with  friends  and 
let  whatever  that  would,  happen  during 
his  two-week  leave  from  NBC  duties. . . . 
Transmitter  Circulation  Manager  Wal- 
ter WiEBEL  will  utilize  his  August  22  to 
September  7 time-off  period  to  make  a 
flying  trip  to  Chicago,  where  he  will  visit 
the  NBC  studios.  By  car  he  will  continue 
to  Kansas  City,  New  Orleans,  and  Cincin- 
nati. In  the  last  mentioned  he  will  visit 
his  parents  and  then  board  an  air  liner  for 
the  last  hop  to  New  York,  thus  bringing 
to  a close  what  might  be  called  an  "ex- 
tensive tour,  etc.”  . . . Music  Rights’  Jean 
Gerrard  returned  from  Oskosh,  Wis., 
August  31  from  what  she  termed  "an 
ideal  time.”  . . . Charles  Van  Bergen 
(Press)  will  visit  the  second  highest  spot 
in  New  York  State  when  he  starts  on  his 
vacation,  September  7-21,  to  Eaton,  N.  Y. 
. . . Duplicating’s  Fred  Thistle  returned 
August  31  from  a two  week  motoring  trip 
through  New  England.  . . . Also  Mimeo 
Bill  Nealy  left  August  21  for  Bangor, 
N.  Y.,  where  it  is  rural  with  a capital  "R.” 
. . . Accounting’s  Willie  Popp  began  one 
of  those  indefinite  vacations  August  14 
just  to  upset  this  correspondent’s  facts— 
in-the-news  campaign.  . . . Coincidence— 
Statistical’s  Miriam  Hoffmeier  accom- 
panied by  sister,  Kay,  and  a friend  ran 
into  Statistician  Ed  Evans  on  Rue  Some- 
thing-Or-Other  while  vacationing  in  Mon- 
treal, Canada.  It’s  the  darndest  thing,  I 
tell  ya. 


UNCLE  MILT  CROSS 
. . . from  kilocycles  to  bicycles 


4 


NBC  TRANSMITTER,  SEPTEMBER,  1936 


NEWS  FLASHES 

{Continued  from  page  two) 

Bon  Voyage 

The  tops  in  acts  of  appreciation  hap- 
pened on  the  deck  of  the  Monarch  of 
Bermuda,  Wednesday  A.M.,  August  12. 
Friendly  Milton  J.  Cross  was  making  his 
way  up  the  gang  plank'  to  his  stateroom 
when  he  heard  a loud  "surprise!”  inter- 
rupt the  peace  and  quiet  of  the  water- 
front morning.  And,  there,  waiting  to  wish 
him  bon  voyage,  were  all  the  familiar 
faces  he  had  introduced  over  the  air  via 
Madge  Tucker’s  Sunday  morning  Chil- 
dren’s Hour.  As  a remembrance  of  their 
estiem,  they  presented  him  with  a beauti- 
ful bicycle  for  his  use  in  Bermuda,  where 
the  auto  is  as  rare  a sight  as  a horse- 
drawn  trolley  in  New  York  City. 

Looking  Ahead 

See  if  you  can  dig  up  a copy  of  the 
August  1 issue  of  Broadcasting  Magazine 
from  Miss  Sprague  in  our  General  Library 
and  read  Vice-Chairman  M.  H.  Ayles- 
worth's  instructive  article  on  Page  9,  en- 
titled, "Radio  Is  Movies’  Best  Friend,” 
in  which  he  recommends  closer  coopera- 
tion between  tbe  two  industries  to  promote 
motion  pictures  and  prepare  for  television. 


PAT  KELLY  & NEW  BOARD 
. . . saves  295  seconds 

■ Pictured  above  is  Pat  Kelly,  NBC’s 
Supervisor  of  Announcers,  seated  before 
tbe  new  speed-up  system  recently  installed 
in  his  office  to  facilitate  the  broadcasting 
of  news  bulletins. 

Tbe  second  a bulletin  is  received  the 
announcer  on  duty  can  push  a button 
which  automatically  connects  his  desk 
microphone  to  the  networks  without  de- 
lay, and  read  the  important  news  over  the 
air.  All  bulletins  under  tbis  new  system 
are  identified  by  a staccato  hum  of  wire- 
less signals  heard  at  the  opening  and 
close  of  each  news  flash. 

Formerly  a delay  of  two  or  three  min- 
utes was  involved  in  rushing  bulletins  by 
messenger  and  setting  up  lines.  Now,  the 
program  on  the  air  is  faded  out  and  the 
announcer  begins  reading  his  bulletin 
within  seconds  after  it  is  received,  hot  off 
the  wires.  As  soon  as  the  bulletin  is  fin- 
ished, the  regular  program  is  cut  back 
into  the  network. 


Fitch  Named 
New  Personnel  Head 

■ Walter  G.  Preston  Jr.,  head  of  the  Gen- 
eral Service  Department,  announces  that 
effective  September  1 the  Personnel  Office 
of  the  General  Service  Department  will  be 
under  the  supervision  of  C.  Walter  Fitch, 
who  resigned  as  Assistant  Director  of  the 
WPA  Housing  Division  in  Washington  to 
accept  this  new  position. 


Changes 

• Leslie  Joy’s  status  as  NBC  Representa- 
tive at  KYW  Philadelphia  changes  to  that 
of  Station  Manager  effective  September 
1.  At  NBC  Hollywood  Sid  Goodwin, 
Night  Program  Manager,  replaces  Cecil 
Underwood,  resigned,  as  Program  Man- 
ager. Richard  Filers  became  Night  Pro- 
gram Supervisor  while  Announcer  Paul 
Gates  became  assistant  to  Chief  An- 
nouncer William  Andrews. 

Statistician  Adam  Yung  transferred 
from  organization  statistics  to  the  re- 
search; Tabulator  Bill  Callendar  moved 
in  from  Tabulation  to  replace  Adam  in 
Organization.  Mail  Messenger’s  Milton 
James  to  Tabulating  in  place  of  Bill; 
Beatrice  Akling  of  Stenographic  trans- 
ferred to  Station  Relations  as  secretary  to 
Keith  Kiggins;  Jane  Scott,  also  Steno- 
graphic, moves  in  as  stenographer  to  F.  M. 
Greene  in  Sales  Traffic. 

Mail  Messenger  Frank  Macarski 
transferred  to  Building  Maintenance  Divi- 
sion of  General  Service  Department;  Bob 
White  from  Mail  Room  to  Guest  Rela- 
tions; Guest  Receptionists  Fred  Wesche 
and  George  Flood  on  for  summer  in  line 
with  Gordon  H.  Mills’  idea  of  rehiring 
former  NBC  men  for  temporary  summer 
work.  Both  men  return  to  school  in  fall. 

Promotions  and 
Assignments 

■ J.  H.  MacDonald  has  been  named 
manager  of  tbe  combined  Budget— Cost 
Accounting  Division  of  the  Treasurer’s 
Department;  Charles  H.  Thurman  be- 
comes assistant  manager  of  the  Guest 
Relations  Division  of  General  Service; 
Thomas  Tart,  former  Coordinator  of 
Guest  Relations  Operation,  promoted  to 
the  post  of  Supervisor  of  the  Mail— Mes- 
senger Division,  replacing  Mr.  Thur- 
man; Paul  Rittenhouse,  Assistant 
Supervisor  of  Night  Floor  Operations  in 
Guest  Relations,  jumped  to  Supervisor  of 
Guides,  replacing  James  Burst,  resigned; 
Main  Hall  Host  George  Malcolm  moved 
into  position  of  Guest  Receptionist,  fill- 
ing a vital  contact  point  with  clients,  ad- 
vertising agents,  artists,  musicians. 


Let's  Get  Acquainted 


B You  ought  to  know  Frances  Sprague 

of  General  Library. 

because  . . . she  has  done  something  new 
and  really  worthwhile.  In  1931  when  she 
accepted  the  job  of  gathering  together  a 
library  devoted  to  radio  broadcasting,  she 
was  a pioneer  exploring  uncharted  terri- 
tory. No  one  had  yet  built  such  a collec- 
tion. 

because  . . . the  pleasant  smile  with  which 
she  greets  you  is  more  than  the  librarian’s 
stereotyped  attempt  to  be  cheerful.  She 
realizes  the  importance  and  the  necessity 
of  the  work  she  is  doing  and  she  shoulders 
the  responsibility  gracefully  and  capably. 
because  . . . she  has  her  degree  from 
Olivet  College  in  Michigan.  Her  education 
was  followed  by  several  years’  experience 
as  a bigh  school  mathematics  teacher— a 
line  of  endeavor  which  was  a natural  pre- 
lude to  her  work  with  the  Detroit  Public 
Library  System  and  the  Technical  Library 
of  tbe  Standard  Oil  Development  Co. 
because  . . . with  a minimum  of  time  and 
effort,  she  can  fulfill  any  reasonable  re- 
quest for  specific  information  as  well  as 
indicate  the  best  possible  source  for  ob- 
taining same.  Besides  the  volumes  on 
radio  itself,  the  General  Library  under 
Miss  Sprague’s  supervision  bas  acquired 
tbe  usual  encyclopedia  and  reference 
books  which  always  come  in  for  heavy 
duty. 

because  ...  in  spite  of  the  literary  tone 
of  her  job,  she  enjoys  exercises  of  the 
body  as  well  as  tbe  mind.  Riding  and  golf 
claim  her  moments  of  recreation.  As  a 
child  her  consuming  ambition  was  to  be- 
come a great  circus  performer  because 
sbe  could  ride  horseback  standing  up. 
because  . . . sbe  never  does  things  by 
halves.  As  an  example,  one  might  pojnt 
out  the  day  we  found  a libretto  for  the 
opera,  "Santa  Lucia,”  on  her  desk.  A new 
acquisition?  Oh  no,  she  was  going  to  hear 
the  opera  and  wanted  to  know  about  it 
beforehand. 

because  ...  if  we  do  not  end  now,  we 
could  easily  spend  another  page  extolling 
her  qualities  we  give  you, 

Frances  Sprague  . . . 


26 


NBC  TRANSMITTER 


VOL,  2 


OCTOBER,  1936 


NO.  9 


V ^ 

* t 


Wayne  L.  Randall 


The  Advertising  and  Sales  'Promo- 
tion and  the  Press  Departments  have 
been  combined  in  the  new  Publicity 
Department,  with  Wayne  L.  Randall, 
former  manager  of  the  Press  Depart- 
ment, as  Director. 

E.P.H.  James , Advertising  and  Sales 
Promotion  manager  since  1927,  and  J. 
Vance  Babb,  acting  manager  of  the 
Press  Department,  head  up  respectively 
the  divisions  of  Sales  Promotion  and 
Advertising,  and  Press  Information 
and  Service. 

Mr;  Babb,  who  resigned  from  NBC 
Press  after  four  years'  service  to 
handle  publicity  for  the  Benton  & 
Bowles  agency,  returned  to  the  com- 
pany several  months  ago.  Mr.  Randall 
joined  the  National  Broadcasting  Com- 
pany in  1931  after  a long  experience 
in  newspaper  and  publicity  work. 


Horatio  Alger  Stuff 

The  story  is  not  yet  finished  — 
our  hero  has  not  yet  reached  the 
end  of  the  rainbow — but  he's  on 
his  way.  He  started  2 years  ago 
as  a little  Reception  Staff  Re- 
view anH  he  grew  from  one  page, 
to  two,  then  four,  then  eight. 
He  is  now  called  the  NBC  TRANS- 
MITTER and  he  reaches  from  New 
York  to  the  Coast,  from  President 
to  office  boy.  He  goes  into  all 
departments,  he  covers  all  of  NBC. 

You  can  help  our  hero  on  his 
way.  Words  of  encouragement, 
helpful  criticism,  contributions 
to  his  pages  will  be  given  his 
whole  hearted  attention.  Tell 
him  what  you  think  of  him. 


Visit  of  International  Heads 

The  most  important  radio  officials 
in  Europe  will  visit  N.  Y.  for  NBC's 
Tenth  Anniversary  celebration.  Dr. 
Max  Jordan,  NBC  Continental  Repre- 
sentative, has  arranged  this,  the 
first  gathering  of  international 
broadcasting  executives  to  be  held 
in  the  U.  S.  The  President  and  the 
Secretary  of  the  International  Broad- 
casting Union,  Messrs.  Maurice  Ram- 
bert and  Arthur  F.  Burrows;  the  Di- 
rector of t he  European  Frequency  Con- 
trol Center  in  Brussels,  Belgium, 
Mr.  Raymond Braillard  along  with  pro- 
gram directors  and  leading  engineers 
from  all  Europe  will  attend.  For 
most  of  these  men  this  will  be  their 
first  visit  to  the  U.  S. 

Dr.  Jordan  arrived  on  October  15 
after  completing  preparations  for  a 
round-the-world  salute  to  NBC  to  be 
given  from  15  different  countries  on 
November  5.  He  will  remain  until  the 
end  of  November  to  supervise  the  re- 
ception and  entertainment  of  the  dis- 
tinguished visitors. 

NBC  Wins  DMAA  Award 

NBC's  Daytime  and  Summertime  cam- 
paigns were  selected  by  the  Direct 
Mail  Advertising  Association  Conven- 
tion judges  as  one  of  the  six  out- 
standing sales  promotional  efforts  of 
1936.  Of  the  so  campaigns  chosen 
from  the  many  entries  as  the  Direct 
Mail  Leaders  of  1936,  26  were  given 
first  rating,  of  these  6 were  ac- 
knowledged as  outstanding.  NBC  was 
second  among  the  top  six.  These  win- 
ning campaigns  will  be  exhibited  in 
all  the  principal  cities.  As  NBC  won 
the  only  awards  in  the  broadcasting 
field,  congratulations  are  in  order 
for  the  fine  work  displayed  by  our 
Promotion  Division. 


Moves 

September  16,  Easton  C.  Wooley, 
who  had  been  affiliated  with  NBC 
since  1931,  left,  to  assume  the  man- 
agement of  WWJ,  Detroit.  The  vacancy 
in  the  Station  Relations  Department 
was  filled  by  JohnH.  Norton  Jr.,  Lee 
B.  Wailes,  transferred  from  the  Sta- 
tistical Department,  took  the  lat- 
ter's duties  as  assistant  to  William 
S.  Hedges,  Manager  of  NBC  Operated 
Stations.  Barry  T.  Rumple  has  come 
from  Chicago  to  become  assistant  to 
the  Chief  Statistician,  Hugh  M.  Be- 
ville  Jr.  Carl  Doty  of  theN.Y.  staff 
was  transferred  to  the  Chicago  Sta- 
tistical Division. 


Slogan  Winners  - See  Next 
Transmitter 

The  news  we  have  all  been  wait- 
ing for — who  won  the  slogan  con- 
test and  which  slogans  captured 
the  prizes — will  be  announced 
exclusively  in  the  next  issue  of 
the  NBC  TRANSMITTER.  Not  even 
the  winners  themselves  will  know 
the  good  news  until  they  read 
their  names  in  the  paper.  Twenty 
names  and  twenty  slogans  will  be 
listed.  The  prizes  will  be  Sioo, 
$50,  $25,  eight  prizes  of  $10 
each  and  nine  at  $5.  Be  sure  to 
look  for  your  name  and  brainchild 
in  the  next  issue.  WTio  knows, 
you  may  yet  be  buying  those  golf 
clubs  or  that  bottle  of  perfume 
you've  been  eyeing  so  covetously. 


New  Promotion  System 

Demonstrated  in  Practice 

Thomas  McFadden,  who  wais  guide, 
set-up  man  and  main  hall  cashier,  has 
graduated  to  a position  in  the  Special 
Events  Department.  Frank  Koehler  has 
been  advanced  from  the  set-up  staff 
to  fill  the  vaceincy  left  by  McFadden 's 
promotion.  Leon  Leak  will  fill 
Koehler's  spot  on  the  set-up  staff 
and  Carl  Cannon,  who  returns  from  a 
leave  of  absence,  will  replace  Leak. 

David  Robert's  promotion  to  the 
announcing  staff  moved  Whalen  to  the 
Control  Desk.  The  assistant  super- 
visorshipwas  filled  by  Frank  Koehler. 
Leak  took  over  the  job  of  Main  Hall 
cashier.  Berger  Hagerth  became  a 
set-up  man  and  Bob  White  was  promoted 
to  the  guide  staff. 

Thus,  promotions  in  the  Guest  Re- 
lations Department  now  follow  a def- 
inite sequence.  According  to  this 
mu  plan,  a page's  advancement  tg  a 
supervisory  position  takes  place  af- 
ter he  has  passed  through  the  succes- 
sive stages  of  guide  and  studio  set- 
up man.  As  a supervisor  he  may  ad- 
vance through  several  levels,  ranging 
from  main  hall  cashier  to  chief 
supervisor. 

Now  that  a definite  procedure  has 
been  developed  in  pr£u:tice  as  well 
as  in  theory,  there  are  set  goals 
toward  which  a man  may  look. 


2 


NBC  TRANSMITTER,  OCTOBER,  1936 


Ernesi;  La  Prade 
— - leads  an 
All-American  Orchestra 

NBC  sponsors  a new  program  venture 
called  the  NBC  Home  Symphony  Series, 
by  means  of  which  it  is  hoped  to 
stimulate  the  great  wealth  of  am- 
ateur talent  throughout  the  country. 
This  uniq,ue  program  feature  is  best 
explained  in  the  words  of  Ernest 
la  Prade,  director  and  originator  of 
the  NBC  Home  Symphony  series; 

"Walt  V/hitman  hearc  America  sing- 
ing. It  was  an  inspiring  song.  But, 
if  Walt  'Whitman  were  alive  today,  he 
would  hear  another  sound  perhaps  new 
to  his  ears  but  no  less  harmonious. 
He  would  hear  America  playing... on 
all  kinds  of  musical  instruments. 
Now,  through  the  unifying  magic  of 
radio,  we  hope  to  organize  all  this 
individual  talent  and  enthusiasm  into 
an  orchestra  with  members  in  thous- 
ands of  homes  throughout  the  country . 
That  is  the  object  of  the  NBC  Home 
Symphony  Series,  and  I hope  that  all 
the  amateur  instrumentalists  of  the 
National  Broadcasting  Company  will 
join  in  and  help  to  achieve  it." 

This  series  is  to  be  heard  on  Sat- 
urdays over  WJZ  and  the  Blue  Net- 
work from  6 '.35  to  7:00  p.m.  EST.  A 
booklet  of  instructions  and  further 
information  will  be  mailed  on  reguest 
if  you  write  the  NBC  Music  Depart- 
ment, RCA  Building,  Radio  City. 


What  Have  You? 

Have  you  something  to  sell  or 
exchange?  In  coming  issues,  the 
TRANSMITTER  is  going  to  perform 
a service  to  help  you  in  such 
guests.  A want  ad  column  is  be- 
ing instituted,  which  will  be 
available  to  all  NBC  employes 
everywhere  free  of  charge.  There 
will  be  several  regulations  re- 
garding the  placement  of  ads. 
First,  no  one  is  to  be  allowed 
more  than  two  forty-five  word 
entries  for  every  four  issues. 
Second,  the  service  will  not  ad- 
vertise any  regular  sales  or 
services.  Third,  the  TRANSMITTER 
will  accept  no  responsibility  for 
statements  made  in  ads.  We  will 
merely  act  as  a medium  of  ex- 
change. 

Address  all  reguests  to  the  NBC 
TRANSMITTER  Want-Ad  Editor,  Room 
297,  NBC,  RCA  Building,  Radio 
City,  giving  your  name  and  ad- 
dress. All  items  for  the  Novem- 
ber IS  issue  must  be  received  in 
writing  by  the  Want-Ad  Editor 
not  later  than  October  26. 


Fame 

The  judgement  of  the  general  public 
in  voting  NBC's  Guided  Tour  one  of 
New  York's  greatest  attractions,  is 
confirmed  by  the  distinguished  names 
which  graced  our  guest  list  for  the 
past  month.  No  less  a personage  than 
the  former  gueen  of  Spain  traveling 
incognito  under  the  title  of  "Duchess 
of  Toledo"  and  several  members  of  her 
family  were  conducted  through  the 
building. 

It  seems  that  our  plant  is  regarded 
the  world  over  as  the  last  word  in 
radio  technigue.  Foreign  broadcast- 
ing officials  make  it  a point  to  in- 
clude NBC  in  their  itineraries.  The 
Director  of  the  Overseas  Broadcast- 
ing Corporation  of  Japan,  Mr.  Shin- 
roku  Tanomogi,  was  numbered  among 
our  guests  on  September  7.  He  was 
preceded  by  one  of  his  countrymen  on 
September  1,  the  Hon.  Masawo  Kamo, 
President  of  the  Japanese  Federation 
of  Efficiency  Societies,  who  was  also 
treated  to  a back-stage  view  of  our 
methods. 

There  are  figures,  too,  that  stir 
pride  for  our  efficient  guide  service 
and  the  educationeil , entertaining 
(Continued  on  page  4) 


Your  Announcer  is  — 
David  Roberts 

David  Roberts  (pictured  above) , for- 
merly of  Guest  Relations,  recently  was 
promoted  to  junior  announcer  on  the 
N.Y.  staff.  Roberts  has  been  with  NBC 
since  January  1934.  During  the  past 
two  and  a half  years  he  has  been  Page, 
Guide,  Guide  Supervisor  and  finally. 
Chief  Control  Desk  Clerk  in  Guest  Re- 
lations. He  was  a member  of  the  last 
Announcer's  Class.  He  gives  a great 
deal  of  the  credit  for  his  promotion 
to  the  tutelage  of  Dan  Russell,  who 
conducted  these  classes. 

Before  his  affiliation  with  NBC, 
Roberts,  who  hails  from  Jacksonville, 
Florida,  had  worked  his  way  around  the 
world.  His  education  includes  three 
years  of  chemical  engineering  at  Penn 
State.  So  he  assumes  bis  new  duties 
with  a wealth  of  experience  enhanced 
by  the  practice  he  has  had  recently 
in  announcing  morning  progrtims. 

Pardon  Us  But  -- 

We  didn't  know  that  the  TRANSMITTER 
had  been  so  popular  in  its  early 
stages.  Recently,  we  found  our  files 
incomplete.  If  you  have  early  copies 
of  the  Transmitter  or  the  Reception 
Staff  Review  tucked  away,  will  you 
shoot  them  down  to  Room  297?  We  need 
Vol.  I No.  1,  3,  6,  7,  8,  9- 


NBC  TRANSMITTER,  OCTOBER,  1936 


3 


Want  to  Bowl? 

The  1936-37  season  for  the  Rocke- 
feller Center  Bowling  League  opened 
September  29.  Teams  representing 
NBC,  the  Rockefeller  Foundation,  RCA, 
RKO,  RCA  Communications,  Radiomarine 
Corp.,  and  the  American  Cyanamid 
Corporation,  make  up  the  league, 
which  bowls  every  Tuesday  night  at 
the  Capitol  Health  Center,  53  St.  and 
7th  Ave.  The  league's  officers  are 
Peter  House  (NBC  I,  President;  Harold 
Kolbe  ( Rockefeller  Foundation), 
Treasurer;  Clifford  Finch  (RCA), 
Secretary. 

NBC  has  an  excellent  past  record: 
won  first  place  in  1933;  second  in 
1934,  and  tie  for  first  in  1935.  If 
you  care  to  join  the  team,  tin  average 
of  150  or  better  is  required.  Call 
Peter  House  (Ext.  513),  if  you  shape 
up.  There  is  talk,  however,  of 
starting  an  inter-department  league 
within  NBC.  Even  if  you  are  only  a 
beginner,  so  long  as  you  are  inter- 
ested in  the  sociability,  recrea- 
tion and  exercise  which  bowling  af- 
fords, dial  513.  Let's  have  an  all- 
NBC  League. 


Announcers'  Class 

Several  weeks  ago  paiges  and  guides 
were  auditioned  by  Pat  Kelly  for 
places  in  the  new  announcer's  class. 
Of  the  30  who  were  heard,  7 were  se- 
lected, namely:  Don  Gardiner,  James 
Elliott,  Jack  Mills,  Keane  Crockett, 
Paul  Rittenhouse,  Dick  Diament,  and 
Don  Mercer.  To  these  were  added  Roger 
von  Roth  and  Leon  Leak  of  last  year's 
group. 

The  classes  will  be  taught  by  An- 
nouncer Dan  Russell  from  1-3  p.m.  on 
Tuesdays  and  Thursdays. 

Marshall  Directs  Chorus 

November  1936  will  mark  the  Tenth 
Anniversary  of  NBC,  and  the  first 
anniversary  of  the  NBC  Chaminade 
Chorus,  composed  of  women  only.  It 
is  the  first  female  organization  in 
NBC.  Two  dinners,  followed  by  en- 
tertainment, marked  last  season's 
social  activities;  rehearsals  were 
well  attended. 

William  Leroy  Marshall  (Program 
Department)  has  succeeded  DanaS.Mer- 
rimau  in*  directing  the  chorus  this 
year;  rehearsals  began  October  5 and 
are  held  each  Monday  from  6:15  to 
7:15  p.m.  This  arrangement  leaves 
the  evening  free  and  makes  it  conven- 
ient for  those  who  work  until  six  to 
attend.  Anyone  interested  and  will- 
ing to  work  seriously  with  the  group 
is  invited  to  join.  Officers  are 
Frances  Barbour,  president;  Enid 
Beaupre,  secretary;  Helen  K.  Winter, 
treasurer;  Madge  Boyton,  librarian; 
and  Barbara  Clark,  chairman  of  the 
Social  Committee.  ) 


If  you  told  a fellow  employe  you've 
heard  that  Mr.  Lohr  has  more  hobbies 
than  he  can  count  on  his  fingers,  be 
would  probably  say,  "That's  impossi- 
ble. The  president  of  the  largest 
broadceisting  company  in  the  world  is 
too  busy  to  have  hobbies." 

But  that  is  just  what  he  is  — a 
very  busy  man;  a man  so  active  that 
when  he  is  not  busy  with  the  affairs 
of  business  he  is  busy  with  his  hob- 
bies. Then  your  friend  would  say, 
"But  doesn't  he  ever  relax?"  Yes, 
Mr.  Lohr  relaxes  when  he  is  enjoying 
his  hobbies.  To  some  people  relaxa- 
tion might  mean  complete  inactivity, 
but  to  this  busy  executive,  it  is  a 
different  thing.  To  him  relaxation 
is  distraction  from  everyday  business 
affairs;  it  is  the  entertainment  of 
the  mind  and  body  with  hobbies.  His 
hobbies  are  so  numerous  and  diverse 
that  one  might  say  his  chief  hobby  is 
having  many  hobbies. 

Being  an  ex-Anny  man,  Mr.  Lohr  has 
acquired  the  hobby  of  collecting 
military  relics.  His  collection  in- 
cludes all  types  of  guns,  a piece 
from  the  battleship  Maine,  relics  he 
picked  up  from  the  battlefields  of 
the  World  War,  military  accessories 
used  during  the  Civil  War,  and  an  iron 
piece  from  the  Constitution. 

Mr.  Lohr  also  collects  playing 
cards  from  all  parts  of  the  world. 
His  prize  collection  is  his  U.S. 
Stamps.  He  also  has  a collection  of 
coins  of  all  ages  from  different 
countries.  At  present,  he  is  spe- 
cializing in  pennies.  Add  to  these 
collections  one  of  butterflies  and 
you  have  the  hobbies  which  absorb 
some  of  the  leisure  time  of  a busi- 
ness leader  away  from  his  office. 

Mr.  Lohr  is  also  an  enthusiastic 
photographer.  He  is  proud  of  2000 
feet  of  colored  movie  film  taken  by 
him  of  the  Century  of  Progress  Ex- 
hibition in  Chicago,  which  he  managed 
successfully,  and  profitably,  at  a 


time  when  the  depression  was  at  its 
lowest  ebb.  He  also  has  collected 
many  odd  bits  from  the  different 
buildings  and  exhibits  of  the  Chicago 
Fair. 

Back  on  liis  farm  in  Illinois,  hr. 
Lohr  had  more  time  for  his  hobbies. 
One  of  his  pastimes  was  the  building 
of  a dam  to  form  an  artificial  lake 
on  his  property.  In  his  house,  he 
had  a room  set  aside  for  his  collec- 
tions. Just  as  soon  as  he  settles 
down  in  his  new  Tarrytown  home,  he 
will  put  aside  a room  for  his  little 
museum.  Right  now,  he  is  personally 
supervising  changes  and  improvements 
in  his  new  home.  He  likes  to  fix 
things  about  the  house.  He  likes  to 
keep  his  hands  busy,  and  he  spends 
many  evenings  tinkering  in  his  base- 
ment laboratory  and  machine  shop. 
This  then  is  how  a busy  executive 
keeps  himself  busy. 

Ed:  A movement  is  under  way  to  in- 
corporate all  hobby  groups  within 
the  company  into  a Hobby  Club  in  or- 
der to  unite  all  NBC  hobby  enthusi- 
asts^ The  TRANSMITTER  wishes  to  an- 
nounce that  its  columns  are  offered 
for  any  services  it  may  render  to- 
wards this  movement . 


Stamp  Club  Notes 

by  Walter  Noons 

Interesting  news  has  a way  of 
reaching  far  distant  points.  The  NBC 
Stamp  Club  Collection  is  an  instance. 
Somehow,  His  Excellency  Jorge  Ubico, 
President  of  the  Republic  of  Guate- 
mala, heard  about  it,  and  lias  pre- 
sented the  NBC  Stamp  Club  with  used 
and  unused  specimens  of  a st^lmp  is- 
sued by  his  country  in  191b,  which 
pictures  the  Guatemalan  broadcasting 
station — the  first  postage  stamp  is- 
sued by  any  country  that  referred  to 
radio. 

This  contribution  starts  a new  and 
specialized  section  of  the  NBC  Stamp 
Club  Collection  which  will  be  devoted 
to  "radio"  stamps,  of  which  quite  a 
few  have  been  issued  by  sever2d  coun- 
tries (not  including  the  United 
States) . 

Graham  McNamee  heard  about  Presi- 
dent Ubico 's  contribution  and  fol- 
lowed suit.  Graham  has  presented  the 
NBC  Stamp  Club  with  all  the  stamps 
of  Newfoundland  that  refer  to  radio, 
six  in  all,  with  three  different  sub- 
jects. Now  that  the  collection  has 
reached  sizeable  proportions,  cases 
are  being  designed  for  the  public 
display  of  the  NBC  Stamp  Collection 
in  our  Studio  Section.  We'll  tell 
you  when  these  are  completed  and  ready 
for  your  inspection. 


4 


NBC  TRANSMITTER,  OCTOBER,  1936 


NBC  TRANSMITTER 


Vol . 2 Ocioberj  1936 No  , 9 

Editor.  - Frank  C.  Lepore 
Assistant  Editor  - Ary  R.  Moll 

Editorial  Board:  Walter  A.  Wiebel  (Circulation) ; Alwin 

D.  Poster  (Hobbies) ; D.  Caldwell  Davis  (Features);  Di- 
ana Miller  (Promotion  );  Coulson  N.  Sguires  (Photograph- 
ic Reproductions) 

Contributors:  Jolly  Hill  Steinke;  Barbara  Biermann 

(Guesi  Relations)  \ Enid  Beaupre  (Sales.  Promotion) ; 
Paul  Rittenliouse  (Guest  Relations)',  Gordon  Logue 
(Guest  Re  lations)  ; F.  Fairbanks  (Statistical)', 

Murry  Harris  (Guest  Relations);  Peter  House  (Engin- 
eering); Vincent  Merchiorri CGuest  Relations);  William 
S.  Callander  (Statistical) ; Edward  Keller  (Guest  Re- 
lations); Eloreace  V.  Maher  (Evening  General  Manager's. 
Office);  Grace  H.  Smith  (Guest  Relations);  Don  Gar- 
diner (Guest  Relations) 

Address  all  correspondence  to. 

NP.C  TRANSMITTER 

Room  297  Phone:  Circle  7-8300,  Ext.  220 


Tenth  Anniversary  News 

According  to  the  Tenth  Anniversary  Committee's  latest 
reports,  NBC  plans  to  broadcast  all  night  November  m, 
bringing  three  months  of  celebration  to  a grand  clim^ 
at  1 a.m.,  November  16.  Representatives  of  the  world's 
leading  broadcasting  systems  will  be  present  November 
15  - the  day  on  which  NBC  was  organized  ten  years  ago  - 
to  participate  in  the  festivities. 

In  commemoratibn  of  NBC's  tenth  birthday,  the  maga- 
zines Radio  Mirror.  Radio  Stars,  and  Electronics  ’ple.'D.  to 
devote  their  entire  December  issues  to  our  anniversary. 
Below  are  listed  the  special  Tenth  Anniversary  programs 
to  which  you  are  invited  to  listen: 

REGULAR 

Sundays:  THE  WORLD  SALUTES  NBC-  12:00  Noon.  Red.  Fore- 
most broadcasting  companies  throughout  the  globe  parade 
their  best  tcdent  before  the  microphone  in  tribute  to 
NBC. 

THE  MAGIC  KEY  OF  RCA  - 2:00  p.m.  Blue.  A portion  of 
this  weekly  feature  is  devoted  to  NBC,  telling  of  its 
achievements  in  the  past  ten  years. 

Mondays:  TEN  YEARS  IN  RETROSPECT  - 10:00  p.m.  Blue. 
Vivid  dramatizations  of  NBC's  progress  during  the  past 
ten  years  authored  by  Continuity  Writer  James  Costello, 
highspotting  news,  special  events,  engineering  achieve- 
ments. 

Wednesdays:  DANCE  MUSIC  OF  THE  PAST  DECADE  - 10:30 
p.m.  Blue.  Meredith  Willson,  NBC's  West  Coast  Musical 
Director,  leads  his  orchestra  in  unusual  orchestrations 
of  the  best  dance  tunes  of  the  decade. 

Thursdays:  NBC  JAMBOREE  - 8:00  p.m.  Blue.  Harry  Kogen 
and  his  orcnestra.  Gale  Page,  Jackie  Heller,  Don  McNeil 
plus  special  events  from  all  parts  of  Europe  and  America. 

THE  lOTH  ANNIVERSARY  CONCERT  - io:oo  p.m.  Blue.  Artur 
Bodanzky,  famous  conductor  of  the  Wagnerian  cycle  at 
the  Metropolitan  Opera  House,  Helen  Traubel,  dramatic 
soprano  and  the  NBC  Concert  Orchestra. 

SPECIAL 

October  I9  through  25  - 12:30p.m.  Blue.  Rational  Farm 
and  Home  Hour  will  dedicate  its  time  to  NBC's  birthday. 

October  26  through  31  - 9:00  A.M.  Red.  Streamliners  will 
also  devote  their  spot  on  the  air  to  NBC's  decade  of 
progress. 


roc.  NBC 

ATCi^NSMITTEe.  (^EflDeeS 

nm  3Dftvs  or 

MOOINQ  f^BC  TO 
radkd  citv,it  wns 

POUND  THftT  CVJER.V 
O&JECT  WAS  IN  ITS 
PROPER.  PLACE  WITH 
THE  EXCEPTION  OF 
ONE  MISSING  DESK 

VaWch  belonged  to 

TWE  UEttV  MAN  WHO 
HAD  SUPERVISED  THE 
MOVING  ' 


& 

HAVE  VIEIDED  AN  ESTIMATED 
4,200.0DDMIKE  APPEARANCES- 
ENOOGH  to  R)RM  a CONTINOOOS 
PARADE  ERDM  NSC'S  NEW 
yoRW  STUDIOS  TD  WITHIN  2.8( 
MILES  or  LOS  ANGELES 


Ur  ONE  STATION 
OPERATING  Zt 
HCJURS  ADAV 

TO 


sustaining 
STffnON  HOURS  AIRED  BV  ITS  NETWORK 
STATIONS  IT  WOULD  HPVE  BEEN  NEC- 
ESSARV.-TO  START  BROADCASTING 
IN  17(5^  - AT  ABOUT  THE  TIME  THE 
"STAMP  ACT"  WAS  THE  PARAMOUNT 
ISSUE  OF  THE  OAV  IN  THE 

American  Colonies. 


Listener  Reactions 
by  Ruth  M.  Crawford 

Ed.  Mote;  Ruth  M.  Crawford,  able  Audience  Mail  Corre- 
spondent, will  conduct  this  c o lumn  f or  TRAMSMITTER  readers 
mainly  to  correct  a false  impress  ion  that  Audience  Mail 
receives  only  "fan  letters".  NBC's  listener  audience 
is  so  vast  every  nail  bag  carries  an  interesting  cross 
section  of  humanity . 

The  June  Readers  Digest  article  on  "America's  Town 
Meeting  of  the  Air"  (The  National  Heckle  Hour)  brought 
inquiries  from  all  over  the  U.S.  and  from  many  foreign 
countries.  That's  reaction. 

Listening  to  Malcolm  Claire,  the  genial  teller  of 
tales,  is  the  reward  one  fond  mother  uses  to  make  her 
three  children  eat  their  breakfast  cereal.  "The  cereal 
is  all  eaten  and  the  day  cheerfully  begun,"  she  writes. 

One  woman  who  retires  early  each  evening,  sets  the 
alarm  clock  for  midnight  so  she  will  be  awakened  in  time 
to  hear  Shandor  (daily  at  midnight  except  Saturdays  and 
Sundays) . 

Then  a farmer  in  charge  of  the  entertainment  for  the 
Annual  Fanners'  Grange  Picnic  asked  if  we  could  help 
him  with  material  for  a "Vox-Pop"  program.  A sound  ef- 
fects article  by  Ray  Kelly,  this  year,  helped  this  same 
man  to  stage  a burlesque  radio  show. 

Listeners  request  information  concerning  the  oddest 
of  subjects.  "Was  there  a real  Mother  Goose?"  "What 
was  George  Washington's  favorite  song?" "Can  you  send  us 
the  dimensions  of  the  Statue  of  Liberty?"  "In  what 
state  of  the  Union  is  Radio  City?"  Such  are  the  ques- 
tions which  arrive  daily  in  Audience  Mail. 


Fame 

(Continued  from  page  2) 

character  of  the  material  we  have  to  offer  have  brought 
a total  of  1,349,593  regular  guests  (as  of  October  1st) 
to  the  NBC  studios  in  Radio  City.  Add  to  this  the  al- 
ready large  list  of  distinguished  guests  and  you  have  a 
fair  appraisal  of  the  interest  our  system  elicits. 


NBC  TRANSMITTER,  OCTOBER , 1936 


5 


What  Do  You  Think? 

The  other  day  this  reporter  took  a 
walk  through  NBC's  corridors  and 
asked  several  employes  this  question; 
"What  Do  Yon  Think  of  the  Plan  for 
Rospital  Insurance?".  Here  are  their 
answers: 

"I  believe t hat t he  plan  for  hospital 
insurance  isa  fine  thing.  It  enables 
one  of  limited  means  to  insure  himself 
and  his  family  of  proper  medical  care 
with  a minimum  of  expense." 

- James  Ralston,  Jr.,  Guide 

"If  I should  be  taken  ill  only  once 
in  the  next  ten  years,  my  investment 
in  a hospital  insurance  policy  will 
be  a profitable  one." 

- Don  Lowe,  Announcer 

"I  think  it's  a good  thing.  I can 
imagine  nothing  finer  than  spending 
a couple  of  weeks  in  some  secluded 
hospital!" 

- Catherine  Merrill,  Executive  Sec. 

"I  am  not  in  favor  of  this  type  of 
Hospital  Care.  I feel  sure  that  this 
is  a step  in  the  wrong  direction  and 
that  direct  aid  to  hospitals,  and  a 
new  service  code  for  medicine  is  the 
thing  that's  needed." 

- C.P.  Dickson,  Engineer 

"Healthy  or  otherwise,  the  small  fee 
involved  is  well  worth  the  protec- 
tion." 

- Argeletta  M.  Tolomeo,  Stenographer 


ECHO  CIIAAIBER 

Edi tor 

NBC  Transmitter: 

We  have  often  noticed  many  people 
on  their  "appointed  rounds"  stopping 
to  peek  into  Room  304  to  watch  the 
operation  of  a large  mechanical  mon- 
ster typical  of  our  machine  age. 
It 's  about  six  feet  long  and  looks 
like  nothing  you  have  seen  before. 
An  operator  inserts  stacks  of  punched 
cards  at  one  end  of  the  machine,  sets 
a few  dials,  throws  a switch  and  lo! 
the  typewriter  arrangement  at  t he  op- 
posite end  starts  to  print  automati- 
cally columns  of  figures,  five  at  a 
time. 

For  our  inquisitive  members,  let 
us  say  that  this  is  an  International 
Business  Machine  Tabulator  capable 
of  adding  or  subtracting  simultane- 
ously five  columns  of  figures  at  the 
rate  of  150  calculations  each  per 
minute,  or  a total  of  750  individual 
cidditions  per  minute,  which  is  quite 
a lot  of  calculations. 

Actually,  the  machine  is  used  to 
calculate  the  coverage  of  various  net- 
works used  by  individual  advertisers 
for  each  county  in  the  II.S.  Comparable 
marketing  data  is  also  provided. 

Edward  F.  Evans 
N.Y.  Statistical 
Ed:  Reader  Evans,  congratuLat ions  on 
knowing  enough,  about  mechanical  mon- 
sters to  tell  us  about  them,  Ve'd 
Like  to  see  more  readers  do  more  en- 
lightening. 


Let's  Get  Acquainted 

You  ought  to  know  Charles  W.  Fitch, 
our  new  Personnel  Maneiger. 
because  ...  of  lots  of  the  same 
reasons  that  make  you  instinctively 
like  a person  without  being  able  to 
say  why,  but  mainly  because  he  is 
THE  man  for  his  job. 
because  ...  he  has  come  a long  way 
to  reach  us.  He  was  born  fourteen 
years  before  the  turn  of  the  century 
in  Washington,  D.C.  After  finishing 
high  school  there,  he  spent  some  time 
at  the  Colorado  School  of  Mines  and 
Cornell  to  receive  a degree  of  Civil 
Engineering  in  1910  at  the  latter 
university  where  he  Wcis  Sigma  Nu. 
because  . . . his  career  has  followed 
several  branches  of  engineering  and 
business.  He  has  worked  on  irriga- 
tion projects  and  railroad  construc- 
tions, in  the  latter  for  the  Southern 
Railway  Co.  He  was  a member  of  a 
private  real  estate  development  com- 
pany and  he  recently  filled  the  posi- 
tion of  Assistant  Director  of  the 
Housing  Division,  PWA. 
because  ...  he  returned  from  army 
engineering  service  during  the  war 
ready  to  consider  that  period  of  his 
life  a closed  book;  consciously  for- 
gotten; willfully  ignored. 
because  ...  he  has  a manly  aversion 
for  all  the  details  of  moving,  es- 
pecially when  said  moving  requires 
half  of  ones  short  vacation  as  it 
did  when  he  recently  established  his 
new  home  in  Bronxville  with  his  fam- 
ily. 

because  , , , his  modesty  belies  his 
almost  six  feet  of  intelligent  as- 
surance topped  off  with  a neatly 
cropped  head  of  dark  hair  and  ren- 
dered more  striking  by  a ruddy  com- 
plexion beaming  with  good  will. 
because  . . . his  only  claim  to  fame 
in  recreational  activities  is  the 
fact  that  he  has  never  played  golf. 
He  has  tried  many  other  sports  for 
his  own  amazement  (thank  you,  Mr. 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Ode  to  Reconstruction 

by 

Muriel  Parker 

Exclusive  to  the  Nbc  Transmitter 

T'was  the  end  of  the  week  in  that  place  so  sedate 
Not  a creature  was  stirring  'cept  those  working  late. 

Our  desks  had  been  locked  and  we  left  them  with  care 
In  hopes  that  the  next  day  would  find  them  still  there. 
Then  home  we  all  went  for  the  week-end  to  spend 
With  family,  relative  or  maybe  a friend. 

But  Monday,  of  course,  we  were  back  on  the  spot 
All  ready  to  work  whether  like  it  or  not. 

When  out  in  the  hall  there  rose  such  a clatter. 

We  sprang  from  our  desks  to  see  what  was  the  matter. 

Away  to  the  door  we  flew  like  a flash 
The  turmoil  resembled  the  '29  crash! 

When  what  to  our  wondering  eyes  did  appear 
But  the  strangest  sight  in  our  business  career 
For  there  down  the  hall  was  such  a great  throng 
We  knew  in  a moment  that  something  was  wrong. 

And  as  we  approached  them  their  story  to  hear 
We  listened  tho'  painful  it  was  to  the  ear. 

"My  desk  was  there  Friday,  and  so  was  my  boss 
But  where  I can  find  them,  I'm  just  at  a loss." 

My  office  has  vanished the  walls  are  gone,  too 

And  they  told  me  on  entering,  'you're  in  the  wrong  pew.'" 

A sigh  of  despair  rose  up  from  the  crowd 

A fog  they  were  in  as  thick  as  a cloud 

But  floor  #2  of  our  company 

Is  taking  the  cake — you  wait  and  see 

When  you  try  to  find  your  way  on  that  floor 

You'll  gladly  submit  to  our  guided  tour. 


6 


NBC  TRANSMITTER,  OCTOBER,  1936 


NBC  SAN  FRANCISCO 

by  Louise  Landis 
Exclusive  to  the  Nbc  Transmitteb 


WTAM  CLEVELAND 

by  Hal  Metzger 

Exclusive  to  the  Nbc  Transmitter 


NBC  CHICAGO 

by  GLenn  fiLson 

Exclusive  to  the  Nbc  Transmitter 


For  five  months  Van  Flemming  (Care- 
free Carnival  producer) had  been  try- 
ing to  get  away  from  microphones  long 
enough  to  get  Miss  Karolyn  Reis, 
newspaper  and  magazine  illustrator, 
to  malce  good  on  a promise  she  gave 
him  last  May.  Each  time  the  couple 
tried  to  set  a date  for  their  mar- 
riage a new  program  or  something  of 
the  sort  came  up.  Finally,  they  de- 
termined to  ta)ce  the  step  anyway, 
even  if  a honeymoon  would  have  to  be 
postponed.  Van  wrote  the  Carnival 
continuity  for  September  13  and 
grimly  started  on  the  script  for  the 
next  week's  show  and  then  came  the 
cancellation,  just  at  the  right  mo- 
ment; came  Van  to  his  lady's  front 
door  with  ring,  orchids,  license  and 
coupe;  came  minister,  came  Larry 
Allen,  manager  of  the  NBC  Artist 
Service,  as  best  man.  The  knot  was 
tied  and  amid  a shower  of  rice  the 
young  couple  departed  for  Carmel,  to 
honeymoon  beside  cypresses  and  blue 
waves  for  a whole,  mike-less  week!! 

Pity  poor  Benny  Walker,  m.  c.  of 
the  Women's  Magazine  of  the  Air,  in 
San  Francisco  ...  Asked  to  master- 
ceremonies  at  the  San  Joaquin  Grape 
and  Wine  Festival  at  Lodi,  California, 
Benny  complied,  put  on  a great  show, 
and  came  home  the  next  day  to  find 
that  the  wine-growers  had  sent  him 
a case  of  finest  California  champagne. 
Flaw  in  the  ointment;  Benny's  on  the 
water  wagon ! ! 


Tom  Lewis,  formerly  of  WGY  and  un- 
til recently  program  director  of 
WTAM,  Cleveland  division  of  NBC,  was 
granted  a leave  of  absence  due  to  ill 
health.  Lewis  left  for  Bermuda, 
September  30^ 

J.J.  Francis,  of  WTAM' s Engineering 
Dept,  has  turned  song  writer.  In 
collaboration  with  Lee  Gordon,  mem- 
ber of  the  station's  music  staff, 
Francis  has  written  a sacred  hymn 
which  is  soon  to  be  published. 

WTAM 's  "art  gallery"  comprising  one 
hundred  paintings,  water  colors  and 
sculpture  by  outstanding  Cleveland 
artists  has  attracted  national  at- 
tention. In  a recent  issue  of  Art 
Digest,  Peyton  C.  Boswell,  editor, 
commented  favorably  on  the  show. 

WTAM  announcer  George  Hartrick 
worked  his  "tricks"  in  full  uniform 
during  the  week  of  September  20. 
Hartrick,  a member  of  the  American 
Legion,  participated  in  the  National 
Convention,  held  in  Cleveland. 

E.R.  Alcott,  well  known  showman 
and  booker,  has  been  named  head  of 
the  Cleveland  Division  of  NBC  Artists 
Service.  

With  winter  coming  on,  WTAM's  En- 
gineering Department  are  overhauling 
their  short  wave  equipment.  H.  B. 
Caskey,  is  already  in  the  field  op- 
erating nightly.  John  Disbrow,  is 
another  fan,  who  runs  Caskey  a close 
second. 


WGY  SCHENECTADY 

by  f,T.  Meenam 

Exclusive  to  the  Nbc  Transmitter 

Ttfe  WGY  staff  augmented  by  WGY  entertainers  got  together  for  their  annual 
outing  recently  at  Tom  Luther's  hotel  on  Saratoga  Lake,  White  Sulphur  Springs. 
It  was  a big  day  given  up  to  sports  of  all  kinds  and  a splendid  dinner.  The 
main  event,  this  year  as  laist,  was  a softball  contest  - a grudge  match  be- 
tween the  program  and  technical  departments.  A.O.  Coggeshall,  captained  the 
programmers  and  Bernard  Cruger  the  technicals.  The  game  was  won  by  the  latter 
in  spite  of  the  expert  pitching  contributed  by  Kolin  Hager,  Station  Manager. 
The  final  score  was  31  - 30  and  the  game  was  put  on  ice  by  a weird  bit  of 
baseball  in  the  midst  of  a batting  rally  that  should  have  given  the  pro- 
grammers victory.  Alex  MacDonald  of  Sales  was  on  second  when  Phil  Brook,  who 
learned  his  four  R's  - readin',  'ritin',  'rithmatic  and  radio  - at  St. 
Lawrence  University  - hit  a mighty  shot  that  would  be  a home  run  in  any 
stadium.  Alex  didn't  see  it  go,  so  when  the  technical's  third  baseman  told 
him  to  hold  the  bag,  Alex  did  so,  and  Phil  Brook,  puffing  and  ste^^ning,  passed 
his  team  mate.  The  umpire  ruled  both  men  out  and  the  scorer  hasn't  yet  fig- 
ured who  should  get  credit  for  the  put -outs. 


A.O.  Coggeshall,  Program  Manager  of  WGY,  likes  to  fish  occasionally  and  he 
spends  many  hours  without  reward.  But  a while  back  he  brought  a five  pound 
four  ounce  big-mouth  bass  out  of  Snyder  Lake,  back  of  Troy  for  which  Coggie 
was  awarded  a handsome  double-barrelled  shot  gun  by  a local  sports  goods 
dealer  for  producing  the  biggest  bass  in  a prescribed  period. 


Another  St.  Lawrence  graduate  has  been  added  to  the  announcer  rosier  of 
WGY.  Peter  Krug,  a resident  of  Wallington,  N.J.  is  taking  daily  announcer 
assignments. 


The  world's  worst  practical  joke 
was  pulled  on  Bill  Senn,  Chicago  mail 
room  messenger.  It  seems  that  Bill 
was  somewhat  cocky  about  the  slogan 
he  had  submitted  for  the  NBC  SLOGAN 
CONTEST,  so  the  wag  signed  the  judges 
naimes  to  a telegram  declaring  him 
winner.  Bill  took  one  look  at  the 
message,  tore  out  of  the  office, 
called  up  his  family  and  then  glee- 
fully accepted  congratulations  from 
everyone.  The  news  spread  like  a 
brush  fire  and  Bill  was  the  hero  of 
the  hour  - but  for  just  an  hour. 
Then  the  low-lifers,  who  had  concocted 
the  little  prank,  gave  themselves  up 
and  are  they  the  heros  now  - not..!! 

Landee  Hanson  and  Johnny  Wehrheim, 
guides,  both  got  married  on  their 

vacations Jean  Baiun  is  back  at 

the  switchboard  after  her  absence 
because  of  a broken  arm.  She  says 
the  only  plugs  she  saw  while  conva- 
lescing were  the  ones  she  bet  on  at 

Arlington The  studio  softball 

team  was  forced  to  disband  for  the 
season  when  the  outfield  composed  of 
Announcer  Bob  Brown,  Page  Captain 
Russ  Sparks,  and  Shorty  Carson  of  the 
Ranch  Boys  eliminated  themselves  by 
bumping  their  heads  together  chasing 
a tall  fly.  

Francis  Clark,  former  Northwestern 
University  campus  leader,  and  now  in 
NBC's  Chicago  Publicity  Department 
will  wed  Wells  Simons  of  Kenilworth 
on  October  31.  They  will  make  their 
home  in  Evanston,  111. 

Everett  Mitchell,  Chicago's  Senior 
Announcer,  plans  to  resume  the  Page 
Boys'  Announcers  School  now  that  va- 
cations are  over.  The  first  class 
was  held  when  Everett  returned  from 
Gainesville.  Fla.  where  he  vacationed. 

The  Sound  Effects  School,  under  the 
direction  of  Mul  Wood  has  been  in 
session  throughout  the  summer  and 
seems  to  be  producing  some  excellent 
sound  prospects. 

Ken  Fry,  who  has  held  down  the 
"desk"  in  Chicago's  Press  Department 
for  the  past  three  years,  has  been 
transferred  to  the  program  Depart- 
ment in  charge  of  special  events  and 
news  broadcasts.  Bill  Ray  moves  into 
Ken's  old  spot  while  Dan  Thompson, 
late  of  Louisville,  Ky.  fills  the 
vacancy  in  the  department. 

Let’s  Get  Acquainted 

(Continued  from  page 
Allen)  among  which  he  rates  horse- 
back riding  as  the  tops. 
because  ...  he  has  an  open,  re- 
ceptive mind  ready  to  accept  ideas 
and  analyzing  them  for  what  they're 
wort  h . 

We  give  yon  Charles  Walton  Fitch, 
with  our  conplinents. 


NBC  TRANSMITTER,  OCTOBER,  1936 


7 


NBC  HOLLYWOOD 

by  Frances  SculLy 

Exclusive  to  the  Nbc  Transmitter 

The  NBC  colony  in  San  Fernando 
Valley  has  added  another  NBCite  to 
its  fold  with  Don  Ameche  moving  his 
family  to  this  spot  which  is  just 
miles  from  the  Hollywood  studios. 
To  date  the  colony  includes  Harry 
Jackson  (Musical  Director);  Frank 
Figgins  and  Mort  Smith  (Engineers); 
Virginia  Elliot  (Head  Hostess);  John 
Swallow  (Manager);  Myrl  Alderman 
(Music  Department);  and  Hal  Bock 
(Press)  with  his  EL  Rancho  Bocko 
which  is  going  full  swing  with  trees, 
flowers  and  a picket  fence.  Pub- 
licity Director  Bock  bought  his  ranch 
last  June  when  he  married  Sybil 
Chism. 

Hollywood  studios  have  added  a flock 
of  newcomers  to  its  fold  during  the 
last  two  months,  all  of  whom  have 
been  transferred  from  San  Francisco. 
Sid  Goodwin  has  been  made  program 
manager;  Walter  Baker,  office  mana- 
ger; Clinton  (Buddy)  Twiss,  added  to 
the  announcing  staff  and  Edward  Ludes 
to  the  production  department.  How- 
ever, Goodwin  has  the  edge  on  the 

rest  of  the  boys he  has  danced 

with  Jean  Harlow  at  the  Trocadero. 

Nadine  Amos,  secretary  to  Don  Gil- 
man, is  quite  perplexed  as  to  what 
type  of  car  snatcher  stole  her  new 
coupe.  When  the  police  recovered  the 
car  after  a week,  the  only  missing 
parts  were  a small  rear  mirror  and  a 
iO(f  key  ring.  They  left  the  keys  on 
a piece  of  wire. 

Sydney  Dixon,  (Sales  Manager)  shot 
a i6o  pound  deer  a few  weeks  back. 
He  sniped  his  victim  with  a gun  bor- 
rowed from  John  Swallow,  binoculars 
owned  by  Eddie  Holden,  boots  loaned 
by  Tracy  Moore  and  a suit  belonging 
to  Harold  Bock^ 

And  speaking  of  Show  Boat  boners, 
Charlie  Young,  head  guide,  was  ques- 
tioned by  a lady  visitor  regarding 
the  canal  in  San  Diego  through  which 
the  Show  Boat  traveled  from  the  port 
to  the  Fair  Grounds.  She  couldn't 
find  it  when  she  visited  San  Diego. 

Elaine  Forbes  (Sales  Secretary ) has 
written  a radio  play  which  is  now  in 
the  hands  of  an  agent.  Lots  of  luck, 
Forbsie.  Before  entering  business, 
Elaine  was  on  the  stage. 

Ruth  Schooler,  secretary  to  John 
Swallow,  has  the  prize  pets  of  the 
Hollywood  studios,  - two  turtles  named 
blue  and  red  network,  with  their 
shells  painted  accordingly.  Every 
day  at  3:00  p.m.  they  do  tricks  on 
her  desk.  

Myrl  Alderman  (Music  Dept.)  has  a 
new  name.  He  is  now  called  T.C.  be- 
cause he  substituted  with  three  pi- 
ano solos  three  times  within  a week 
on  national  programs,  when  line 
failures  occurred. 


KDKA  PITTSBURGH 

by  Kay  Barr 

Exclusive  to  the  Nbc  Transmitter 

Russell  (Doc)  Pratt, Charles  Urquhart 
and  Jack  Hollister  are  new  additions 
to  the  KDKA  staff.  Pratt  weis  one  of 
the  Three  Doctors  of  WMAQ  and  be- 
comes the  official  clown  for  the  Pi- 
oneer station.  He  is  doing  a regular 
commercial  early  in  the  morning  and 
filling  in  for  special  service  on 
other  programs.  Urquhart  moved  from 
WGBI,  Scranton,  and  replaced  Sherman 
"Jock"  MacGregor,  in  production  for 
KDKA.  Hollister  is  a newspaper  vet- 
eran and  succeeds  Ed  Spragife  as 
sports  commentator. 

John  Gihon,  program  manager  at 
KDKA,  has  designed  a huge  board  that 
fills  one  wall  of  his  office.  Small 
cards,  inserted  in  grooves,  show  by 
color  and  typing  what  programs  are 
sustaining  and  which  are  commercial 
for  the  several  Pittsburgh  stations. 
One  glance  informs  a salesman,  a 
sponsor,  a program  man  or  production 
expert  what  broadc^lSts  are  on  and 
what  competition  they  have  for  every 
quarter  hour.  It's  proving  a prac- 
tical, workable  remedy  for  studio 
headaches.  

Late  in  October  KDKA  will  present 
a special  program  to  dedicate  a new 
pipe  organ  now  being  installed  in  A 
Stndio.  Bernie  Armstrong  will  be  the 
official  console-manipulator. 

"Uncle"  Sammy  Fuller  and  his  KDKA 
Kiddie  Klnb  are  creating  quite  a 
furore.  He  has  started  a worldwide 
correspondence  among  his  youthful 
listeners.  Bach  day  he  suggests  that 
someone  write  to  the  youngster  whose 
name  he  mentions.  This  has  set  up  a 
chain  which  has  already  girdled  the 
globe. 


KYW  PHILADELPHIA 

by  J.A.  AuLL 

Exclusive  to  the  Nbc  Transmitter 

Herewith  KYW  makes  its  first  offi- 
cial bow  to  the  NBC  TRANSMITTER  as 
an  of f icial  member  of  a great  family. 
Of  course,  for  a long  time  we  have 
considered  ourselves  at  least  foster 
children.  But  so  rapid  is  the  growth 
that  less  than  a month  after  onr  of- 
ficial initiation  we  find  ourselves 
no  longer  the  youngest  member  of  the 
group.  That  was  one  superlative  we 
had  relied  upon. 

As  a matter  of  fact,  our  transmu- 
tation now  seems  far  away  in  the 
background.  Under  the  tutelage  of 
Leslie  Joy  onr  wobbly  feet  that  first 
tottered  along  the  paths  of  a new 
regime  are  planted  firmly  on  the 
ground.  Thanks  also  are  due  to  the 
close  cooperation  of  our  Westing- 
house  associates  under  Mr.  Gager.  We 
are  going  places. 

Inasmuch  as  our  travels  will  be 
confined  unfortunately  to  the  air, 
our  meet  ing  must  necessarily  be  t here. 
This  doesn' t distress  usinthe  least. 
In  fact,  we're  pretty  set-up  about 
it.  We  hope  you'll  hear  more  and 
more  from  us  on  that  score.  For 
those  of  us  who  don't  get  on  the  air 
we  must  rely  on  the  NBC  TRANSMITTER. 
We'd  like  to  introduce  ourselves. 
There  may  be  an  old  friend  among  the 
many  new  ones.  Leslie  Joy,  Station 
Manager;  James  P.  Begley,  Program 
Manager;  Ralph  A.  Sayres,  Director 
of  Sales;  J.M.F,  ProuLx,  Office  Man- 
ager - Auditor;  J.A.  AuLl,  Publicity 
Director;  James  Harvey,  Continuity; 
Alfred  It.  Katto.n,  Continuity;  and 
E.H.  Gager,  Plant  Mamager  for  West- 
ing house. 


NBC  BOSTON  AND  SPRINGFIELD 

by  G.A.  Harder 

Exclusive  to  the  Nbc  Transmitter 

Addressing  a large  gathering  of  Rotarians  at  the  Boston  City  Club,  John  A. 
Holman,  Manager  of  WBZ  and  WBZA,  recently  displayed  oratorical  gifts  of  which 
even  his  close  business  associates  had  been  unaware.  The  capable  mentor  of 
NBC's  Blue  Network  outlet  in  Boston  impressed  his  hearers  with  an  eloquent 
peroration  on  the  power  of  radio  to  prevent  future  wars  by  molding  public 
opinion.  

Early  October  marks  the  14th  anniversary  of  W.  Gordon  Swan's  connection 
with  stations  WBZ  and  WBZA.  Swan,  who  is  now  Traffic  Manager  of  WBZ,bro)ce 
into  radio  while  still  a school  boy.  During  his  long  association  with  NBC  he 
has  served  as  announcer,  continuity  writer,  salesman,  publicity  assistant, 
progreuB  director,  and  now  traffic  manager. 

John  McN«ara,  Program  Manager  of  WBZ,  deserves  congratulations  for  his 
yeoman  service  in  boilding  up  NBC's  Harvard  Tercentenary  programs.  Working 
steaulily  with  t he  Tercentenary  Committee  for  the  past  two  years,  McNamara  made 
many  of  the  arrangements  for  the  brilliant  series  of  NBC  broadcasts  celebrating 
Harvard's  300th  birthday.  

Charles  S.  ("Cy")  Young,  vigilante  of  WBZ 's  till  and  father-confessor  to  the 
entire  staff,  makes  a hobby  of  studying  navigation  and  kindred  maritime  sub- 
jects. Other  ardent  hobbyists  include  Robert  Halloran  (Service  Department) 
stamp  collector;  Gordon  Swan,  Norman  Whittaker  and  Elmer  Lantz,  fly-fishermen 
par  excellence;  Gordon  Ewing,  golf  and  tennis. 


8 


NBC  TRANSMITTER,  OCTOBER,  1936 


With  Our  Roving  Reporter 

Now  that  Fall  is  here,  the  studios 
are  beginning  to  buzz  with  more  ac- 
tivity than  ever . . . .Welbourne  Kelley 
wrote  his  latest  book,  "So  Fair  A 
House,"  in  exactly  four  months — he's 

now  working  on  a play 196,531 

persons  bought  tickets  for  the  studio 
tour  during  June,  July,  and  August 
of  this  year,  compared  with  163,772 
who  did  likewise  during  the  same 

period  in  1935 August  seems  to 

bring  the  greatest  numberof  tourists 
to  Radio  City. . . .John  Hancock  dropped 
in  to  see  us  after  his  return  from  a 
ten  weeks'  trip  to  Venezuela  for  an 

oil  company Now  he's  headed  for 

New  Orleans 


Stoopnagle  and  Budd  plan  to  intro- 
duce a new  game  to  their  studio  audi- 
ence when  their  new  program  begins  in 
which  they'll  have  the  audience 

take  part McTigue  in  Press  has 

earned  the  title  of  "Inspector"  for 
his  ability  to  spot  phony  newsmen... 
The  question  most  asked  by  visitors 
leaving  Studio  8H  is,  "When  will  they 
finish  painting  it?" Are  you  do- 

ing your  Christmas  shopping  now, 

while  it's  early? They  had  a lot 

of  fun  with  those  balloons  during 
International  Week. 


The  Queen  of  Spain  is  just  as  regal 
in  appearance  as  a queen  should  be... 
We  offer  our  deepest  sympathy  to 
Lloyd  Yoder,  who  lost  his  father  in 
September. .. .Lloyd  is  Manager  of  the 
San  Francisco  Press  Department.  The 
Music  Hall  orchestra  pit  can  be  low- 
ered, run  back  under  the  stage,  and 
brought  up  exactly  in  the  center,  if 

it  is  so  desired Ray  Lee  Jackson 

probably  knows  more  radio  stars  than 
any  other  person.  Some  of  the  pic- 
tures he  has  taken  of  them  hang  in 
the  Sound  Effects  Exhibit  on  the  ninth 
floor.  Adios,  see  you  next  issue. 

Walter  Moore 


Space  Reallotmeni 

In  order  to  unify  departmental  ac- 
tivity, all  divisions  of  the  Program 
Department  which  function  at  night 
are  to  be  collected  on  the  second 
studio  floor  just  as  Evening  Execu- 
tive and  Guest  Relations  activities 
are.  Each  of  the  office  floors  is  to 
be  reorganized  to  house  departments 
with  interrelated  functions. 


Barbara  Biermann 


New  York  vs.  Romance 

Ed.  Note:  Barbarti  Biermann  {Guest 

Relations)  writes  us  a first  hand  im- 
pression of  a crash  at  sea.  She 
sailed  for  New  York  from  Boston,  the 
evening  of  September,  gth,  on  the  S.S. 
New  York.  Out  of  the  heavy  fog,  a 
terrible  crash  startled  the  passen- 
gers; the  New  York  had  rammed  the 
Romance.  Kithin  fourteen  minutes, 
the  Romance  had  broken  in  two  and 
sunk.  The  account  follows; 

"A  pea  soup  fog  - A Boston-bound 
excursion  boat  a night  boat  to  New 
York  - a crash,  and  a Romance  that 
sank.  Rope  ladders  that  took  the 
stricken  people  off  the  fatal  boat  - 
hysterical  women,  men,  yes, auid  dogs  - 
Curates  praying  on  a slippery  deck 
for  a safe  return  to  port  - men  cry- 
ing and  even  fainting  - the  remark- 
ably speedy  action  by  both  crews  - 
the  captain  of  the  Romance  going  down 
on  the  bridge  - the  thought  of  how 
stupid  it  is  that  a boat  can  sink  in 
14  minutes  and  break  up  like  kindling 
wood  - odd  remark  to  me  - "Lady, 
swallow  your  pearls"'  - again  the 
thought  that  not  enough  can  be  said 
for  the  heroic  work  of  both  crews  - 
the  speedy  transfer  from  pier  to 
station  and  the  special  train  for 
New  York.  In  lieu  of  Pullman  porters 
off  duty  - station  porters  hired  at 
$4.00  an  hour  to  make  up  the  train 
for  approximately  323  people  - the 
fact  that  one  couldn't  see  people  at 
the  other  end  of  the  deck  because  of 
the  fog  - and  last  of  all  but  not 
least,  that  Guest  Relations' employes 
are  never  free  from  Shock.'" 


by  Alan  Kent 

MUSCLE-RIPPLED  TORSO 

Little  does  the  Metropolitan  Opera 
Company  realize  that  upon  the  advent 
of  its  customary  broadcasting  season, 
its  commentator  in  past  years  will 
appear  for  this  year's  work  with  a 
muscle-rippled  torso.  MILTON  J.  CROSS 
has  joined  the  West  Side  Y M C A. 
Which  startling  fact  gives  us  pause 
to  wonder  if,  perhaps,  the  current 
passion  for  streamlining  has  set  its 
tentacles  upon  Mr.  Cross.  Or  it  may 
be  that  MILTON  J.  CROSS  believes 
that  the  well  turned  figure  produces 
the  well  turned  phrase.  It's  all 
very  puzzling  not  to  say  downright 
upsetting  - specially  to  the  CROSS 
digestive  system. 

GOOD  SAMARITAN 

Up  and  down  Broadway  the  other 
evening  there  shuffled  a weary  and 
hungry  man  bearing  a sign.  What  the 
sign  said  doesn't  matter  very  much  - 
sufficient  is  the  fact  that  it  was  a 
heavy  sign  and  the  man  had  been  car- 
rying it  for  a long  time.  Out  of 
the  darkness  appeared  NELSON  CASE, 
homeward  bound,  and  that  latent  in- 
stinct for  rescue,  lying  dormant  in 
the  bosoms  of  us  all,  came  bounding 
to  the  fore.  MR.  CASE  not  only 
shouldered  the  man's  sign,  but  gave 
him  two  bits  for  a "cupp-acawfee- 
annasanwich . " 

The  St.  Bernard  in  MR.  CASE  had 
triumphed.  After  an  hour  or  so,  the 
announcer  was  relieved  by  the  man  who 
belonged  to  the  sign.  MR.  NELSON 
CASE  resumed  his  homeward  journey. 
Home  to  bed  and  a good  night's  rest, 
only  MR.  CASE  couldn't  sleep.  It 
seemed  that  his  feet  hurt. 

SPATTERSALL  CHECK 

Not  so  long  ago  FORD  BOND  pre- 
sented himself  to  the  members  of  the 
announcing  staff  arrayed  in  a suit, 
the  lineage  of  which  suggested  a 
cross  between  a Houndstooth  Check  and 
an  undernourished  Glen  Urquart  Plaid. 
MR.  BOND  found  himself  rather  at  a 
loss  to  suitably  name  the  style  of 
cloth,  and  asked  for  enlightenment. 
His  brethern,  with  much  riotous  com- 
ment endeavored  to  dub  the  tailored 
burlap.  After  much  debate  MR.  BOND 
was  gravely  informed  that  he  was  the 
proud  parent  of  a "Spattersall  Check." 
This  is  to  let  MR.  BOND  know  that 
there  is  no  such  thing  as  a "Spat- 
tersall Check."  There  is,  however, 
Mr.  Charles  O'Connor  whose  whimsy 
becomes  vicious  upon  provocation. 


For  Deoioii  Photogr«ph«rs 

Are  you  an  amateur  photographer?  Do  you  spend  your  vacation  snapping  people 
and  cats  and  mountains  when  they  are  not  looking?  Does  the  sight  of  an  un- 
usual photograph  delight  you?  Or  do  you  just  happen  to  have  been  fortunate 
enough  at  some  time  or  other  to  have  taken  some  very  good  photographs?  The 
NBC  TRANSMITTER  is  interested  in  ferreting  out  some  of  these  gems  of  the  lens 
and  will  publish  them  each  issue.  Everyone  is  eligible  and  all  types  of 
shots  are  welcome — except  posed  self  portraits.  (Bnt  send  along  a good  can- 
did shot  of  yourself. ) Prizes  will  be  announced  in  the  next  regular  issue  of 
the  TRANSMITTK.  Be  sure  to  put  your  name  and  department  on  the  back  of  the 
photograph  submitted.  And  send  it  to  the  NBC  TRANSMITTER , Room  297*  NBC, 
Radio  City,  N.Y.  Each  contestant  may  submit  only  one  photograph  per  issue. 


10th  ANNIVERSARY  EDITION 

NBC  TRANSIVlITTEB 


VOL  2 


MOVEMllEIV  15,  1951) 


NO.  in 


"BY  CHOICE  THE  NATION’S  VOICE" 


10th  ANNIVERSARY  EDITION 


NBC  TRANSMITTER 


A biweekly  publication  written  by  and  for  the  staff  of  the  National  Broadcasting  Com- 
pany in  New  York,  Boston,  Schenectady,  Philadelphia,  Washington,  Cleveland,  Chicago, 
Denver,  San  Francisco  and  Hollywood  is  the  NBC  TRANSMITTER.  In  this,  the  10th 
Anniversary  edition,  the  dual  purpose  of  celebrating  our  company’s  Tenth  Birthday  and 
this  paper’s  second  anniversary  is  fulfilled.  This  special  issue  is  fittingly  devoted  to  making  a 
permanent  record  of  the  progress  and  personalities  of  an  institution  dedicating  its  nation- 
wide facilities  to  a continued  future  of  social  and  scientific  advancement. 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

Greetings 1 

Officers  of  the  National  Broadcasting  Com- 
pany   2-3 

Truer  Today — After  Ten  Years — Than  Ever 

Before!  4 

A Decade  of  Progress 5 

Then  . . . Now 6-7 

This  Is  The  National  Broadcasting  Company  . 8-9 

NBC  Transmitter — After  Two  Years  ....  10 

Anniversary  News 11 

Slogan  Winners  . 12-13 

NBC  ...  ON  THE  Job 14 

Some  NBC  Firsts 15 

Among  Those  Present  Ten  Years  Ago  Today  . 16 

A Promise  OF  THE  Future  ....  Inside  Back  Cover 


II 

i 


OHAIHMAN  OF  THE  liOAlU) 


Congratulations  to  the  personnel  of  the 
National  Broadcasting  Company  are  in  order 
on  the  occasion  of  this  Tenth  Anniversary, 
and  I welcome  this  opportunity  to  extend 
my  sincere  felicitations  through  the  NBC 


TRANSMITTER. 


It  has  been  my  happy  privilege  to  see  the  National  Broadcasting  Company  develop 
from  an  idea  into  an  actuality;  from  a daring  experiment  in  an  uncharted  field  to  an  immense 
and  well-ordered  business — owing  to  the  enthusiastic  efforts  of  the  men  and  women  compris- 
ing its  efficient  staff. 

The  American  system  of  broadcasting,  with  its  universal  coverage  and  unsurpassed 
program  standards,  stems  from  the  establishment  of  the  National  Broadcasting  Company. 
NBC  was  organized  by  the  Radio  Corporation  of  America  to  provide  the  American  public 
with  the  finest  radio  programs  that  could  be  devised.  NBC  now  occupies  a position  of  envi- 
able leadership  in  rendering  a truly  great  service  to  business  and  to  the  home. 

Compared  to  other  industries,  broadcasting  has  compassed  a century  of  growth  in  ten 
years,  and  from  the  signs  and  portents  now  discernible,  will  span  another  century  of  progress 
in  the  next  ten. 

As  a major  and  veteran  member  of  the  Family  of  RCA,  the  National  Broadcasting 
Company  will  be  in  the  van  of  this  advance.  I know  that  every  individual  member  of  the 
organization  is  making  his  individual  contribution  of  loyalty  and  endeavor  toward  that  end. 
My  confidence  is  serene  in  your  hearty  allegiance  to  the  aims  and  ideals  of  the  company  to 
maintain  a high  tradition  of  genuine  public  service.  And  so  I am  sure  that  the  National  Broad- 
casting Company  will  continue  to  exercise  the  same  leadership  which  during  the  past  decade 
has  been  the  compass  and  beacon  of  broadcasting  progress. 


:-=ooc>-i 


NOTE:  “When  I was  approached  by  Mr.  Lepore,  Editor  of  the 
NBC  TRANSMITTER,  and  one  of  our  NBC  guides,  to  write  a 
message  to  our  NBC  staff,  I asked  him  what  he  would  say  if  he 
was  Chairman  of  the  Board  of  NBC.  He  replied,  ‘Give  me  a little 
time  and  Til  prepare  something.’  The  message  you  have  read  was 


prepared  by  Mr.  Lepore  and  when  I read  it  I told  him  I couldn’t 
improve  on  it.  Mr.  Lepore  is  not  only  a good  guide,  he  is  a good 
reporter  and  editor  as  well,  having  successfully  interpreted  my 
ideas  regarding  NBC!” 

DAVID  SARNOFF 


[1] 


A.  L.  ASHBY 

Vice  President  and  General  Counsel 


GEORGE  ENGLES 

Vice  President 


DON  E.  GILMAN 

Vice  President 


FRANK  E.  MASON 

Vice  President 


DAVID  ROSENBLUM 

Vice  President  and  Treasurer 


JOHN  F.  ROYAL 

Vice  President 


FRANK  M.  RUSSELL 

Vice  President 


LENOX  RILEY  LOHR 
President 


NBC  Banks  First... 


The  National  Broadcasting  Company  looks  back  with  pride 
and  satisfaction  over  ten  years  of  pioneering  and  leadership. 
As  part  of  the  RCA  organization,  NBC  ranks  first  in  every 
phase  of  the  broadcasting  art — research,  equipment,  communi- 
cations, network  facilities,  programs. 

But  the  price  of  progress  is  unceasing  effort.  Should  we  lean 
hack  on  our  record,  however  brilliant,  that  record  would  shortly 
begin  to  lose  its  luster.  So  the  National  Broadcasting  Company 
is  directing  the  inspiration  of  its  past  performance  into  the 
earnest  daily  endeavor  which  will  continue  and  heighten  its 
success  during  the  decade  to  come.  That,  I know,  is  the  spirit 
of  our  whole  company  personnel  today. 


THE 

MODER]\  TOWER 
OF  BABEL 


. 


[3] 


Announcing  the 

National  Broadcasting  Company,  inc. 

ISJational  radio  broadcasting  with  better 
programs  permanently  assured  by  this  im- 
portant action  of  the  Radio  Corporation  of 
America  in  the  interest  of  the  listening  public 


Thf  Radio  Co«ro*^Tios  o»  AMemcA 
IS  the  largest  (iistnlmtnr  of  radm  re 
ceiving  sets  m the  world,  it  handles  the 
entire  output  in  this  held  of  the  Westing- 
house  and  General  Rlecrric  factories. 

It  does  not  say  this  boastfully.  It  does  not 
say  It  with  apologv.  It  savs  it  for  the  pur- 
poac  pf  making  clear  the  fact  that  it  is  more 
largely  intereated,  more  selhihly  interested, 
if  you  pleaae,  in  the  best  possible  broad- 
casting in  the  United  States  than  anyone 
else 

Radio  for  26,000,000  Homes 

The  market  for  retetvtnf  teti  in  the  future  atll 
k<  determined  largely  ky  the  quantity  and 
quality  of  the  programs  broadeast. 

We  sa'*  quantity  because  they  must  be  di- 
versified enough  so  that  acme  of  them  will 
appeal  to  all  possible  listeners. 

We  aay  quality  because  each  program  must 
be  the  bot  of  ita  kind.  If  that  ideal  were  to 
be  reached,  no  home  in  the  United  States 
could  afford  to  be  without  a radio  receiving 
set. 

Today  the  beat  available  atatistica  indicate 
that  5,000,000  homes  are  equipped,  and 
21,000,000  homes  remain  to  be  supplied. 
Radio  reeeittng  sets  of  the  best  reproduetioe 
quality  thould  be  made  aoatlable  for  all,  and 
we  hope  to  make  them  (heap  enough  to  that 
ail  may  buy. 

The  day  has  gone  by  when  the  radio  receiv- 
ing aet  ia  a plaything.  It  must  now  be  an 
instrument  of  service. 

WEAF  Purchased 
for  $1,000,000 

The  Radio  Corporation  of  America,  there 
fore,  ia  interested,  juat  as  the  public  ia,  m 
having  the  most  adequate  programs  broad- 
cast. It  ia  interested,  as  the  public  ia,  in 
having  them  comprehensive  and  free  from 
diaenmination. 

Anv  use  of  radio  transmission  which  causes 
(he  public  to  feel  that  the  quality  of  the 
programs  is  not  the  highest,  that  the  use  of 
radio  is  not  the  broadest  and  best  use  in  the 
public  interest,  that  it  ia  used  for  political 
advantage  or  selfish  power,  will  be  detri- 
mental to  the  public  interest  in  radio,  and 
therefore  to  the  Radio  Corporation  ''I 
America. 

To  insure,  therefore,  the  development  of 
this  great  service,  the  Radio  Curpuration  of 


\mcrica  has  purchased  for  one  million 
dollars  station  WF.AK  from  the  American 
l eiephone  and  Telegraph  Company,  that 
company  having  decided  to  retire  from  the 
broadcasting  business. 

The  Radio  Corporation  of  America  will 
assume  active  control  of  that  station  on 
November  15. 

National  Broadcasting 
Company  Organized 

The  Radio  Corporation  of  America  has  de- 
cided to  incorporate  that  station,  which  has 
achieved  such  a deservedly  high  reputation 
for  the  quality  and  character  of  its  programs, 
under  the  name  of  the  National  Broadcut- 
mg  Company,  Inc. 

The  Purpose  of  the 
New  CoTnjHiny 

The  purpose  of  that  compamy  Will  be  to  pro- 
oide  the  best  program  aoailabie  for  broad- 
casting in  the  United  Statei. 

The  National  Broadcaating  Company  will 
not  only  broadcast  these  programs  through 
station  WEAF,  but  it  will  make  them  avail- 
able toother  broadcasting  stations  through- 
out the  country  so  far  as  it  may  be  practic- 
able to  do  so,  and  they  may  desire  to  take 
them. 

It  is  hoped  that  arrangemenlt  may  be  made  so 
that  every  event  of  notional  importance  may 
be  broadcatt  widely  throughout  the  United 
States. 

No  Monopoly  of  the  Ah 

The  Radio  Corporation  of  America  ia  not  in 
anv  sense  seeking  a monopoly  of  the  air. 
rhat  would  be  a liability  rather  than  an 
asset.  It  is  seeking,  however,  to  provide 
machinery  which  will  insure  a national  dis- 
tribution of  national  programs,  and  a wider 
distribution  of  programs  of  the  highest 
quality. 

U others  Will  engage  in  this  business  the 
Ka.liA  Corporation  of  .imeriea  will  ueleome 
their  action,  whether  it  be  cooperative  or  com- 
petili.e. 

If  other  radio  manufacturing  companies, 
competitors  of  the  Radio  Corporation  of 
America,  wish  to  use  the  facilities  of  the 
National  Broadcasting  Company  for  the 
purftose  of  making  known  to  the  public 
their  receiving  sets,  they  may  do  so  on  the 
same  terms  as  accorded  to  other  clients. 

The  necessit)  ut  pruvidtng  adequate  broad- 


casting is  Ipparent.  The  problem-of  finding 
the  best  means  of  doing  it  is  yet  expen- 
mei\tal.  llie  Radio  Corporation  of  America 
is  making  this  experiment  in  the  interest  of 
the  art  and  the  furtherance  of  the  industry. 

A Public  Advisory  Council 

In  order  that  the  National  Brondcastinf 
Company  may  be  advised  ns  to  the  best 
type  of  program,  that  discrimination  may 
be  avoided,  that  the  public  may  be  assured 
that  the  broadcasting  is  being  done  in  the 
fairest  and  best  way,  always  allowing  for 
human  frailties  and  human  performance,  it 
haa  created  an  Advisory  Council,  compoaed 
of  twelve  members,  to  be  chosen  as  repre- 
sentative of  various  shades  of  public  opin- 
ion, which  will  from  rime  to  time  give  it  the 
benefit  of  their  judgment  and  suggestion. 
The  members  of  this  Council  will  be  an- 
nounced as  soon  as  their  acceptance  shall 
have  been  obtained. 

M.  H.  Ayleju<or(h 
to  be  President 

The  President  of  the  new  National  Broad- 
casting Company  will  be  M.  H.  Ayie^ 
worth,  for  many  years  Managing  Director 
of  the  National  Electric  Light  .Association. 
He  will  perform  the  executive  and  adminis- 
trative duties  of  the  corporation. 

Mr.  Aylesworth,  while  not  hitherto  identi- 
fied with  the  radio  indoatry  or  broadcaau 
ing,  has  had  public  expenence  as  Chairmto 
of  the  Coloriuio  Public  Utilities  Commis- 
sion, and,  through  his  work  with  the  aaa<v 
aation  which  represents  the  dectrical  in- 
dustry, has  a broad  understanding  of  the 
technical  problems  which  measure  the  pace 
of  broadcasting. 

One  of  his  major  responsibilities  will  be  to 
see  that  the  operations  of  the  National 
Broadcaating  Company  reflect  enlightened 
public  opinion,  which  expreaaes  itself  so 
promptly  the  morning  after  any  error  of 
(sste  or  judgment  or  departure  from  fair 
play. 

Ib'e  have  no  hesitation  in  recommending  the 
National  Broadcatling  Company  to  the 
people'of  the  United  Slates. 

It  Will  need  the  help  of  all  htteners.  It  will 
make  mistakes.  If  the  public  will  make  known 
its  oiews  to  the  official!  of  the  company  from 
time  to  lime,  we  are  confident  that  the  new 
broadcasting  company  will  be  an  instrument 
of  great  public  service. 


RADIO  CORPORATION  OF  AMERICA 

OWEN  D.  YOUNG,  Oiairman  o/  the  Board  JAMES  G.  HARBORD.  Prcidini 


TIUIEH  TODAY  -AFTER  TEN  YEARS  -THAN  EVER  REFORE 

IFe  quote  from  our  original  charter: 

"...  making  clear  the  fact  that  it  is  more  largely  interested,  more  selfishly  interested  ...  in 
the  best  possible  broadcasting  in  the  I'nited  States  ...” 

“The  day  has  gone  by  when  the  radio  receiving  set  is  a plaything.  It  must  now  be  an  instrument 
of  public  service.” 

“The  purpose  of  the  new  company  . . . will  be  to  provide  the  best  possible  programs  available 
for  broadcasting  in  the  Linited  States.” 

“We  have  no  hesitation  in  recommending  the  National  Broadcasting  Company  to  the  people 
of  the  United  States.” 


HE 


926  III! 

927 

928  L.l^iILL- 

929  LIlilllLL 

930 

931  IIIlLlJUmilL 

932  ill! 

933  illl 

934  illl 

935  L.L: 

936  ULl 
936 


EACH  SYMBOL  REPRESENTS  lO  STATIONS 


INHC  STATIONS 

• On  November  15,  1926,  with  19  asso- 
ciated stations  interconnected  by  special 
wire  lines,  NBC  broadcast  its  initial  pro- 
gram to  the  largest  radio  audience  then 
available.  A decade  later  this  total  rose 
to  102  stations  and  is  still  growing  larger. 


OF 

PROGRESS 


1932 

1933 

1934 


1935 

1936 
"1936 

EACH  SYAABOL  REPRESENTS  2oo;ooo  WATTS 


STATION  POWEU 

• In  1926  the  total  transmitter  power  oj 
NBC's  network  stations  amounted  to  41,- 
250  watts.  Today  the  aggregate  power 
of  the  Nations  Coice  has  increased 
4000%  to  1,700,000  watts,  which  repre- 
sents an  annual  power  output  of  almost 
11  million  kilowatt  hours. 


1927  QQ 

I92BQQQOI 

I929QQQQQQQ 

1930  QQQQQQQQQU 

1931  QUUQUQQQQQUQU 
l932QQQQQQOQQQQQQt 

1933  UQQQQQQQQQL 

1934  QUQUQQQQQQQQQU 
I93BQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQI 


(iUOSS  EXI’ENOITUKES 

• An  Indication  of  the  rapid  strides 
made  by  NBC  during  the  past  10  years  is 
shown  in  the  gross  expenditures  for  net- 
work facilities  by  national  advertisers. 
In  1927,  which  was  NBC’s  first  full  year 
of  operation,  gross  expenditures  amount- 
ed to  $3,760,000.  It  is  estimated  that  the 
total  for  1936  will  exceed  33  million 
dollars. 


ALIOIENOE  AlAIL 

• Audience  Mail  received  by  NBC  in 
response  to  netuork  programs  amounted 
to  slightly  more  than  one-half  million 
during  NBC’s  first  year.  The  estimated 
six  million  letters  for  1936  will  bring 
the  10  year  total  to  thirty-four  million 
audience  responses. 


CHARTS  DESIGNED  BY  NBC  STATISTICAL  DEPARTMENT 


[3] 


'/  . 


• Imkkioi!,  \^'JZ  Transmitting  Station,  Bound  Brook, 
N.  }.,  J92(>. 


• Yl•;s■n•;l(l)\^  the  cast  idaycd  a dual  role — they  iicre 
sound  effects  technidans  as  well  as  actors. 


• Mastkr  Control  Room  alien  If’F.AF'S  headquar- 
ters were  at  195  Broadway. 


• Announckr  Phillips  Carlin  all  set  to  broadcast 
from  a plane  in  flight. 


• Above,  John  Charles 
Thomas  — before  rib- 
bon velocity  “mikes” 
were  known. 


• Guy  Lombardo  and  his  Royal  Canadians  entertain 
RCA  Magic  Key  guests. 


• Above,  The  Melody 
Belles  of  the  gay  '20's 
offer  you  syncopateil 
rhythm. 


• Right,  When  the 
“Tomato  Can"  micro- 
phone reigned  supreme. 


V -k 

• liNTUtlolt,  If  JZ  TransniilU’r,  l<JSf>. 


• On  cua|{|>  at  I\BC's  nerve  venter  in 


• Encineek  See  listens  intently  as  Night  Program 
Manager  William  Burke  Miller  sends  NBC  listeners 
a passenger  s account  of  the  China  Clipper's  initial 
flight. 


• Sound  Effects — modern  version 


• Above,  John  Chakles 
Thomas  — today. 


• Right,  You  see  what 
the  modern  orchestra 
leader  has  to  offer  as  his 
idea  of  the  Melody 
Belles  of  this  decade. 


• Exteihor,  WEAF,  Bellmore,  L.  /, 


• Right,  Geraldine 
Farrar,  world  • famous 
operatic  star,  accom- 
panying herself  at  the 
piano. 


. . . 

Btoadcaitina 


^0/vo, 


NBC  NETWORKS 


RED  NETWORK 

BLUE  NETWORK 

SUPPLEMENTARY  GROUPS 


AS  OF  JAN.  1.  1937 

Manchester,  Mar  1.  /937 


NBC  HOLLYWOOD 


NBC  CHICAGO 


NBC  WASHINGT'I 


* * M 1 1 , , , 


yinnul 


5515  Melrose  Avenue 


Merchandise  Mart 


As  Planned 


•nm-  k 

■ liMiBiii 

fV"  II 

''••iiiii 
"'mill 
""mil 
"""III 
"""III 
"<">i  II 
"""III 
""dill 
" "I"  II 
"""III 

■ I "III  II 
■I  "I"  II 

■ I "I"  II 
II  "I"  II 
II  imi  II ! 


Ill 


• ;!liiS 


'{M! 


IIow  many  millions  of  us  have  heard  these  familiar  words  in  our  homes  for 
the  past  ten  years!  How  many  millions  have  gradually  come  to  associate  this 
phrase  with  the  finest  in  radio  entertainment!  Yet  how  few  have  ever  begun  to 
comprehend  the  significance  of  these  words — the  vast,  continent-spanning 
machinery  that  is  set  in  motion  in  serving  the  nation. 

Radio,  only  yesterday  a newly-devised  instrument  for  sending  dot-and- 
dash  messages,  has  grown  and  grown  through  the  years,  with  NBC  leading  the 
field;  today,  in  over  22  million  homes,  the  programs  of  the  National  Broad- 
casting Company  serve  not  merely  as  a medium  of  communication,  hut  as  an 
all-expansive  tie  binding  everyone  in  common  understanding.  Yesterday, 
weeks  separated  Atlantic  from  Pacific;  today,  the  familiar  expression  “coast- 
to-coast,”  is  taken  for  granted  as  a natural  phrase  describing  NBC’s  far-flung 
facilities,  serving  government,  business,  and  average  man  alike, — a basis  for 
uniting  Texas  rancher,  Maine  farmer,  Chicago  banker  as  speedily  as  a flash 
of  light.  And  now,  celebrating  its  first  decade,  NBC  looks  to  the  future  as 
“THE  NATION’S  VOICE.” 


NBC  NEW  YORK 
Radio  City 


10th  Anniversary  Edition 


IMIOSPECTIIS 


INIIC  THANSIMITTER 


VoL.  2 November  15,  1936  No.  10 


Editor — Frank  C.  Lepore 
Assistant  Editor — Ary  R.  Moll 


EDITORIAL  BOARD 


Walter  A.  Wiebel 

Alwin  D.  Foster 

D.  Caldwell  Davis 

Diana  Miller 

COULSON  N.  Sgl  lRES 


Circulation 

Hobbies 

Features 

Promotion 

. Photographic  Reproductions 


CONTRIBUTORS 

Joseph  D’Agostino 

Robert  W.  Cutler 

William  F.  Fairbanks 

Burke  Crotty  

Charles  Van  Bergen 

Murry  Harris 

Walter  Moore 

Doris  Ruuth 

Gordon  Logue  

Jane  E.  Miles 


. . . Engineering 

. . . . Statistical 

. . . . Statistical 

. Press  Photographic 
. Press  Photographic 
. . Guest  Relations 

Press 

. . . Engineering 

. . Guest  Relations 

. . . . Personnel 


Address  all  correspondence  to: 

INIU;  THANSMITTEU 

Room  284  Circle  7-8300  Ext.  220 


A TIMELY  TOPIC 

Very  likely  President  Roosevelt  was  not  conscious  of  the 
fact  that  NBC  was  celebrating  its  Tenth  Anniversary  when, 
in  his  final  campaign  speech,  he  made  the  following  timely 
summary  of  the  public  service  rendered  by  the  radio  broad- 
casting companies  of  America: 

“For  a century  and  a half  we  have  had  here  a free 
education  and  a free  press,  free  public  forums  and  a free 
pulpit,  for  more  than  a decade  we  have  had  a free  radio.” 

In  observing  NBC’s  Tenth  Anniversary  we  should  reflect 
on  the  prominent  part  NBC  has  taken  towards  establishing 
“a  free  radio”  for  the  public’s  convenience,  interest,  and 
necessity.  It  is  significant  that  such  a powerful  and  useful 
means  of  communication  has  remained  a free  institution 
in  this  country.  It  is  because  it  has  remained  free  that 
radio  broadcasting  is  now  firmly  established  as  an  Ameri- 
can enterprise  founded  on  American  ideals  and  democratic 
tradition. 

As  the  saying  goes,  now  that  it’s  all  over  but  the  shout- 
ing, we  may  look  back  at  the  prominent  role  NBC  played 
in  the  recent  national  and  state  elections.  The  campaigns 
were  conceded  to  have  been  the  most  hotly  contested  politi- 
cal battles  in  our  history.  Much  was  said  on  all  sides  which 
radio  clearly  carried  into  all  American  homes  so  that  the 
voter  could  hear  and  better  judge  the  relative  merits  of 
the  opposing  candidates,  thus  making  for  better  citizen- 
ship by  clarifying  the  issues  at  stake. 

President  Roosevelt  struck  the  nail  on  the  head  when 
he  remarked: 

“I  doubt  if  there  was  ever  more  downright  political 
intelligence  at  the  average  American  fireside  than  there 
is  to-day.” 

We  may  be  sure  that  in  the  future,  as  in  the  past  and 
present,  radio  will  continue  to  serve  the  American  home 
intelligently  and  well. 


This  special  issue  of  the  NBC  TRANSMITTER  finds  itself 
with  the  dual  purpose  of  celebrating  the  NBC  Tenth  Anni- 
versary along  with  its  own  second  birthday.  It  is  an  attempt 
to  present,  in  retrospect,  NBC  s achievements  and  accom- 
plishments of  the  past  decade  in  such  a form  as  to  enrich 
this  issue’s  historical  value.  At  the  same  time  it  is  hoped 
to  indicate  the  extent  to  which  the  paper  has  helped  and 
may  in  the  future  aid  in  the  fulfillment  of  company  and 
personnel  objectives. 

To  that  end  the  /ollotving  standards  are  set  forth: 

To  publish  news  of  the  advancement  and  the  achievements 
of  radio  broadcasting  and  l\BC's  part  in  it. 

To  enlist  employe  cooperation  in  projects  of  mutual 
benefit  to  him  and  the  company  such  as  better  health,  study 
and  tvholesome  recreation. 

To  tell  of  personnel  activities  in  the  various  deftartments 
and  divisions  of  the  company.  To  give  a more  intimate  knowl- 
edge of  the  organization  as  a whole  and  to  create  a more 
personal  feeling  on  the  part  of  the  employes  toward  each 
other. 

To  paint  the  picture  of  ISBC  at  work  and  at  play  by  the 
use  of  story  telling  photographs. 

The  TRAISSMITTER'S  columns  are  open  to  any  official 
or  employe  of  the  National  Broadcasting  Company  and  all 
contributions  are  ivelcomed. 

That  all  these  purposes  shall  unite  finally  to  bring  all  the 
fat -flung  departments  and  divisions  of  the  National  Broad- 
casting Company  in  closer  touch  with  each  other's  activities. 

W'E  INVITE  YOUR  HEARTY  COOPERATION. 


10] 


N E 


New  Radio  Fun  for 
Children 

• John  F.  Royal,  le\t,  NBC 
vice  president  in  charge  of  pro- 
grams, is  shown  right  reading 
one  of  the  more  than  730 
scripts  entered  in  the  National 
Broadcasting  Com  pony’s  $2,500 
prize  contest  conducted  to  dis- 
cover new  children  s programs. 
Paul  Wing,  director  of  NBC 
children  s programs,  looks  on 
at.  center,  with  Homer  Cray 
distinguished  author,  present 
in  his  capacity  as  a fudge. 


Distinguished  European 
Broadcasting  Officials 
Guests  of  NBC 

• Ui:kk  you  see  members  of  a distinguished 
delegation  of  European  broadcasting  officials 
who  visited  the  United  States  to  participate 
in  the  Tenth  Anniversary  celebration  of  the 
National  Broadcasting  Company  and  to 
study  American  broadcasting  methods. 
Seated  in  the  front  row,  from  left  to  right, 
are:  David  Sarnoff,  president.  Radio  Corpo- 
ration of  America;  Maurice  Rambert,  presi- 
dent, International  Broadcasting  Union; 
General  James  G.  Harbord,  chairman  of 
the  board,  RCA;  Chamberlain  G.  Lerche, 
president,  Danish  Broadcasting  Company; 
and  Lenox  R.  Lohr,  president  of  NBC. 

* Other  members  of  the  delegation,  some 
of  whom  are  grouped  in  the  rear,  are  Robert 
Jardillier,  French  Minister  of  Communica- 
tions; Raymond  Braillard,  head  of  European 
Radio  Control  Center,  Brussels;  Gladstone 
Murray,  general  manager,  Canadian  Broad- 
casting Commission;  Dr.  Kurt  von  Boeck- 
man,  of  Reichs  Rundfunk  Gesellschaft  and 
L.  W.  Hayes,  of  British  Broadcasting 
Corporation. 


The  NBC  Cachet 

• The  NBC  cachet  is  a special  imprint 
placed  on  envelopes  mailed  during  the  com- 
memoration of  our  Tenth  Anniversary  and 
will  be  placed  on  envelopes  for  those  who 
desire  it.  In  order  to  receive  this  service,  the 
Cachet  Manager  of  the  NBC  Stamp  Club 
must  have  the  self  addressed  envelope  bear- 
ing the  necessary  postage  before  noon  Satur- 
day, November  14,  in  order  to  make  the 
imprint  and  mail  it  on  the  15.  Aside  from  the 
value  this  cachet  holds  for  philatelists,  it  is  a 
souvenir  of  NBC  Tenth  Birthday  which  every 
member  of  the  personnel  should  acquire. 


NBC  Week  in  Rockefeller 
Center 

• This  week  the  entire  Rockefeller  Center 
donned  holiday  garb  to  help  NBC  to.  cele- 
brate the  biggest  event  in  its  already  crowded 
career.  The  candles  on  the  NBC  tenth  birth- 
day cake  shone  on  the  gayest  of  banner  and 
bunting.  Each  of  the  shops  sported  an  NBC 
plaque  in  its  window.  There  were  flags 
flying  as  well  there  should  be.  The  Music 
Hall  and  the  Center  Theater  displayed  NBC 
exhibits.  The  plaque  projected  nightly  on 
the  rear  face  of  the  Music  Hall  proclaimed 
these  ten  years  of  service  to  the  world. 


Television  Explained 

• The  November  30  edition  of  the  NBC 
TRANSMITTER  will  carry  a special 
supplementary  section  which  will  be  de- 
voted exclusively  to  television.  It  will 
include  both  a technical  and  non-techni- 
cal  explanation  of  the  facilities  involved 
in  the  production  of  televised  programs, 
some  of  the  problems  to  be  solved  first 
before  television  becomes  commercially 
possible,  and  a complete  photographic 
display  of  the  television  procedure.  Don’t 
miss  the  November  30  issue! 


Television  on  the  Air 

• This  picture  behind  the 
scenes  in  the  National  Broad- 
casting Company’s  television 
studio  shows  the  engineers  us- 
ing the  "Iconoscope”  cameras 
in  the  actual  process  of  a tele- 
vision broadcast.  One  “Icono- 
scope” camera  or  “television 
eye”  mounted  on  a dolly  is 
used  for  obtaining  shots  at  vari- 
able distance  and  the  other  for 
close-ups.  The  images  of  Grace 
and  Eddie  Albert  are  being 
changed  from  a visual  thing  to 
electrical  impulses  by  the 
“Iconoscope”  tube  which  is  to 
television  what  film  is  to  an 
ordinary  camera.  The  elaborate 
lighting  and  use  of  “mike 
booms”  is  all  part  of  the  tele- 
vision technique. 


II 


MARGARET  HUEMER 
New  York — Sales 


RUDOLPH  W.  BAUER 
New  York- — Engineering 


I’llhmSE  OF  mV.  EMI’UIYE  SEOOAN  CONTEST 

“ lo  procure  a permanent  NBC  slogan  that  will  typify  the  services  of  NBC 

to  the  nation  and  to  the  general  public.” 

JlHHiES 

Lee  H.  Bristol,  l ice  P resident,  Bristol-Myers  Company. 

John  Zellers,  Vice-President  and  Assistant  General  Manager,  Reinington- 
Ivand,  Incorporated. 

Edgar  Kodak,  Vice-President,  Lord  and  Thomas. 


METHOn  FOLLOWEO  IN  I’LACINIi  ENTRIES  REFORE  |II00ES 

The  sorters  separated  the  top  half  of  the  blank  form  from  the  bottom  half  so 
the  judges  would  not  know  who  submitted  slogans.  The  judges  did  not 
know  the  names  until  after  the  decisions  had  been  reached. 


SOME  OF  THE  CnNSIDERATIONS  (iOVERNINC  SELECTIONS 

Slight  variations  in  the  choice  or  order  of  the  words  were  regarded  as  im- 
portant by  the  judges,  particularly  as  between  many  slogans  expressing 
approximately  the  same  thought. 

Many  were  more  applicable  to  radio  sets  than  to  radio  broadcasting. 

Some  had  been  already  used  in  NBC  and  RCA  advertising. 

Others  were  too  general  and  too  readily  applicable  to  other  products  and 
services. 

Several  entries  were  identified  too  closely  with  other  famous  slogans — they 
were  paraphrased  or  changed  only  slightly. 

Some  were  too  sweeping  in  their  claims,  while  others  stressed  some  aspect 
of  strictly  minor  importance  to  NBC  or  were  too  narrow  in  application. 

Finally,  several  of  the  more  obvious  slogans  were  repeated  verbatim  in  dozens 
of  entries  implying  lack  of  originality. 


[12] 


m 


1 


rniZE  SLOGANS  AND  WINNEGS  June  Hynd 

New  York — Prof^ram  Department 

FIRST  PRIZE— $100.00 

'‘'By  Choice  The  IS  at  iori  s Voice”  June  Hynd 

SECOND  PRIZE  (TIED)— $50.00  EACH 

“hi  Tune  with  the  Nation”  Margaret  Huemer — New  A ork.  Sales 

Rudolph  W.  Bauer — New  A'ork,  EAigineeiiii}; 

E^dward  R.  Hitz — New  York,  Sales 

THIRD  PRIZE— $25.00 

“America's  Most  Invited  Guest”  Thomas  ¥.  Egan — General  Office,  Boston 

ADDITIONAL  PRIZES— $10.00  EACH 

“The  Nation’s  Party  Line”  Donald  J.  Kraker — New  York,  Mail  Messenger  Section 
“America’s  Voice  by  Popular  Choice”  W.  L.  Simmons — Washington,  D.  C.,  Engineering 
“First  in  American  Ears”  Marvin  D.  Rae,  Jr., — New  Y ork.  Sales  Promotion 

“Everywhere  a Welcome  Guest”  John  M.  Y oung — Chicago,  Continuity 

“Invited  Guest  in  American  Homes”  J.  K.  Mason — New  Y ork.  Sales  Promotion 

“Radio  Host  to  the  Nation”  E’rank  E.  Chizzini — New  Y ork,  Electrical  Transcription 
“Reflects  the  Nation’s  Life”  Dr.  Franklin  Dunham — New  Y ork,  Program 

“At  Home  in  Y our  Home”  Helen  K.  Mobberley,  Washington,  Sales 

ADDITIONAL  PRIZES— $5.00  EACH 

“The  Programs  You  Choose”  Alan  Taylor — Schenectady,  Sales 

“Broadcasters  to  the  Nation”  Maryann  Henderson — New  York,  Executive  Office 

Theodore  H.  Van  Cott — New  York,  Engineering 
“Welcome  Guest  in  Every  Home”  J.  Robert  Myers — New  Y’ork,  Statistical 

“Listeners’  Favorite — Coast  to  Co^st” Vincent  F.  Callahan — Washington,  Sales 

“The  Choice  of  the  Nation”  William  James  Bailey — New  Y ork.  Announcing 

“NBC:  Choice  of  the  Nation” Wallace  R.  Magill — New  York,  Program 

“The  Pick  of  the  Air”  Ma  rjory  Ellen  Moline — New  Y^ork,  Stenographic 

“The  Nation’s  Voice — America’s  Choice” Rubye  Lucille  Downs — Chicago,  Sales 


[13} 


AT  ENGLAND’S  GOLDEN  JUBILEE 


UNDER  THE  SEA 


AT  THE  ERUPTION  OF  MT.  KILAUEA  IN 
HAWAII 


ATOP  THE  NEW  SAN  FRANCISCO  GOLDEN 
GATE  BRIDGE 


MUSICAL  APPRECIATION  HOUR  IN  THE 
CLASSROOM 


WITH  THE  STRATOSPHERE  FLYERS 


IN  ETHIOPIA 


THEY  COVERED  THE  JAMESTOWN  FLOOD 
OF  1936 


COVERING  THE  1936  OLYMPICS  AT  BERLIN, 
GERMANY 


BRINGING  OPERA  TO  AMERICA 


EXCLUSIVE  BROADCAST  OF  THE 
HINDENBERG’S  ARRIVAL 


FLASHING  THE  1936  ELECTION  NEWS  TO 

.H.  VOTR. 


REETING  ENVOYS  OF  FOUR  EUROPEAN 
POWERS 


In  January,  1927,  NBC  made  the  first  successful  transcontinental  pickup  by 
broadcasting  the  Rosebowl  game  from  Pasadena,  Calif. 

In  September,  1927,  NBC  covered  its  first  prizefight — Dempsey-Tunney.  The  net- 
work of  68  stations  was  the  largest  ever  assembled  up  to  that  time. 

In  January,  1928,  NBC  broadcast  the  first  program  from  the  West  Indies  when 
President  Coolidge  opened  the  Pan  American  conference  in  Havana. 

In  February,  1929,  NBC  broadcast  the  first  international  program  from  Europe 
(England). 

In  August,  1929,  NBC  had  a parachute  jumper  broadcast  as  he  floated  down 
to  earth. 

In  October,  1929,  NBC  broadcast  the  first  program  from  Holland  to  the  U.  S. 

In  December,  1929,  first  international  exchange  program  was  received  from  and 
transmitted  to  England,  Holland,  Germany,  and  United  States. 

In  March,  1930,  the  first  two-way  conversation  between  NBC  officials  and 
Admiral  Byrd  in  Dunedin,  New  Zealand. 

December,  1930.  First  broadcast  from  a submarine. 

October,  1931.  NBC  announcers  made  the  first  radio  broadcast  with  the  test 
flights  of  the  American  Clipper  ships. 

December,  1931.  A tribute  to  Marconi  was  broadcast  from  19  different  points  in 
the  world.  First  time  so  many  places  widely  separated  were  united  in  one 
broadcast. 

In  December,  1931,  first  broadcast  of  the  Metropolitan  Opera  Company  on  Christ- 
mas Day  from  the  stage. 

In  1933,  the  most  intricate  broadcast  ever  set  up  was  Roosevelt's  inauguration 
and  the  inaugural  parade.  It  was  a seven-hour  broadcast,  used  five  short- 
wave transmitters  and  the  program  was  relayed  to  Germany  in  German 
and  to  England  by  English  announcers. 

In  April,  1935,  NBC  was  the  first  to  cover  the  crash  of  the  dirigible  Akron. 

August,  1935,  NBC  staged  most  extensive  field  broadcast  hookup  in  radio  history 
of  the  army  maneuvers  at  Pine  Camp,  N.  Y. 

November,  1935,  the  Stratosphere  flight. 

December,  1935,  Burke  Miller,  broadcasting  all  the  way,  crossed  the  Pacific  in 
the  China  Clipper. 


AMONG  THOSE  PRESENT  TEN 
YEARS  AGO  TODAY 


Virginia  R.  Beers 
Kenneth  H.  Berkeley 
Bertha  Brainard 
Walter  R.  Brown 
W.  A.  R.  Brown 
Adelaide  Bucheister 

D.  R.  Buckham 
Angela  Caramore 
Mae  C.  Carroll 
Phillips  Carlin 

E.  R.  Cullen 
Margaret  Cuthbert 
Milton  J.  Cross 
Joseph  D'Agostino 
Marie  Dolan 
Geraldine  Fenrich 
George  Frey 
Paul  J.  Gallant 
Gerald  Gray 
Helen  Guy 


O.  B.  Hanson 
Frances  Heim 
Max  Jacobson 
Albert  E.  Johnson 
Leslie  W.  Joy 
Harold  Kelly 
Marion  Lamphere 
Thomas  P.  Lundon 


Howard  Luttgens 
Alfred  R.  Martin 
George  McElrath 
Harry  McKeon 
Graham  McNamee 
George  Milne 
Robert  M.  Morris 
James  R.  O'Kelly 


Glenn  Payne 
Adelaide  Piana 
Raymond  L.  Porrier 
Samuel  L.  Ross 
Chester  A.  Rackey 
Alfred  H.  Saxton 
Theodore  E.  Schreyer 
William  B.  Scott 
Grace  Sniffin 
Daniel  N.  Stair 
Walter  Tepper 
Robert  L.  Terrel 
Madge  Tucker 
Daniel  S.  Tuthill 
Gertrude  Weightman 
Catherine  M.  Whitaker 
Edna  Wilson 
H.  A.  Woodman 
Mark  Woods 
Harold  W.  Yates 


A FUOMISE  OF  THE  FUTURE